Love and lordship like no fellowship.
Love and lordship like no fellowship.
Meaning in plain English
Possessiveness and a demand for dominance can make equal companionship difficult. Love and lordship are pictured as unwilling to share their place with others.
Example
A person notices that a partner is trying to exclude valued friendships and opens a discussion about boundaries and independence.
Deeper explanation and when to use it
The saying joins an exclusive attachment with the wish to rule, suggesting that both may resist a rival claim. This can expose jealousy or controlling behaviour rather than endorse it as a natural requirement of love. Caring relationships can include friendship, trust and independence. A useful reading asks whether someone is seeking closeness or insisting on authority over another person. The words should not become an excuse for isolation or ownership.
When to use it
Use it to question possessiveness disguised as affection or authority.
Keep in mind
Love does not justify control, isolation or ownership of another person.
Edsverb editorial interpretation · agent reviewed · 2026-10-04. This explains the saying; it does not establish its historical origin.
- Source
- A Dictionary of English Proverbs and Proverbial Phrases
Entry 569 · Fellowship
Read the original context ↗ - Attribution confidence
- traditional · historical anthology
Preserved as printed; independently unverified. - Historical coordinate
- Undated
No reliable date supplied by the collection. - Rights & edition
- Public domain (United States)
Translations and rights may differ elsewhere.
Provenance and licences ↗
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