Much in our vows

Under the guise of a man, Viola has a very interesting conversation with Orsino about love. Orsino believes that women cannot love to the same extent that men can, but Viola disagrees, claiming that as men, they prove "much in our vows but little in our love" (Twelfth Night, 2.4.130). I think this phrase can actually be applied to many of us, male and female; too often we are fair-weather friends, or we love only in word and not in deed. Lately I've been realizing just how much people need friends and family. It isn't just nice to have somebody to spend weekend nights with, or nice to have people to come home to, it's absolutely necessary. For that reason, it is absolutely necessary to be a true friend. Saying that you are a friend and actually being one are two different things, and it is essential to be the latter rather than the former. Making someone believe you are their friend, and then not caring enough to truly commit to loving that person and being there for them is much worse than never pretending to be that person's friend in the first place. Perhaps we often intend to be good friends, but then life gets busy, and it becomes difficult to actually show our love. I will strive to be a real friend, so that even in my most complicated moments, I am still willing to drop everything to help out somebody I love, because such a friend is what everybody needs.

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