Original artwork, not a still
A Midsummer Night's Dream ‧ 1600
The course of true love never did run smooth
Behind the line
What it means
Our interpretation.
The speaker observes that real love is never easy and always meets obstacles. Nothing in the line explains why, but the claim is that difficulty is part of the pattern, not an exception. It offers a rueful comfort to anyone whose affections are troubled.
Context reviewed
