“Sir; though (I thank God for it) I do hate” by John Donne (Poem, Summary, Paraphrase, Analysis & Questions)

 

“Sir; though (I thank God for it) I do hate”

by John Donne

(Poem, Summary, Paraphrase, Analysis & Questions) 

“Sir; though (I thank God for it) I do hate”

Sir; though (I thank God for it) I do hate

Perfectly all this town; yet there's no street

Wherein some woman is not fair; and none

Wherein some man is not so false, that none

Trust them. And when I consider every one,

And go through all the several ranks and ages,

I find myself more like to be thought wise

For loving none, than wise for loving one.

Virtue hath some perverseness, and vices

Have some place in their praise; they shew degrees

Of doing ill, and of enduring wrong.

Th' one with an art of hatred, love us long,

The other, rather than be thought weak, will

Be cruel; yet there are those that do fulfill

Goodness with good; and such are I confess,

Though far 'twixt, and few, are some, I must love less.

 

Summary

The speaker begins by addressing someone respectfully ("Sir") and says that, thankfully, he hates the entire town. However, he admits that in every street of the town, there is at least one beautiful woman. At the same time, he notes that there is also at least one deceitful man in every street—so much so that no one can be trusted.

He goes on to say that when he reflects on all the people he knows, across all social classes and age groups, he concludes that he would appear wiser if he chose to love no one at all, rather than choosing to love just one person.

The speaker then acknowledges that even virtue can sometimes appear twisted or flawed, while vice (evil behavior) can occasionally have qualities that seem praiseworthy. He observes that some people commit wrongs with skill and manage to maintain affection or loyalty, while others act cruelly just to avoid seeming weak.

Still, he admits that there are some people who are genuinely good and who practice goodness sincerely. However, such people are rare and scattered. Because of their rarity and distance, the speaker admits he must love them less—not because they’re not worthy, but because they are so few and far between.

 

Line-by-line Paraphrase

1. Sir; though (I thank God for it) I do hate

→ Sir, although I thank God that I truly do hate

 

2. Perfectly all this town; yet there's no street

→ Absolutely everyone in this town, still, there’s no street

 

3. Wherein some woman is not fair; and none

→ Where there isn’t at least one beautiful woman; and no street

 

4. Wherein some man is not so false, that none

→ Where there isn’t at least one man who is so deceitful that

 

5. Trust them.

→ No one can be trusted.

 

6. And when I consider every one,

→ And when I think about all the people individually,

 

7. And go through all the several ranks and ages,

→ And examine all social classes and age groups,

 

8. I find myself more like to be thought wise

→ I believe people would consider me wiser

 

9. For loving none, than wise for loving one.

→ If I love no one, rather than choosing to love just one person.

 

10. Virtue hath some perverseness, and vices

→ Even virtue (goodness) sometimes seems a bit twisted, and vices

 

11. Have some place in their praise; they shew degrees

→ Can sometimes be admired in certain ways; they show levels

 

12. Of doing ill, and of enduring wrong.

→ Of how badly people can behave, or how much wrong they can tolerate.

 

13. Th' one with an art of hatred, love us long,

→ One kind of vice (hatred) can last long by pretending to be love,

 

14. The other, rather than be thought weak, will

→ Another kind (cruelty) prefers being cruel over appearing weak.

 

15. Be cruel; yet there are those that do fulfill

→ Still, there are people who truly live out

 

16. Goodness with good; and such are I confess,

→ Goodness by doing good things; and I admit,

 

17. Though far 'twixt, and few, are some, I must love less.

→ Though they are rare and far apart, I must love them less.

 

Analysis in Detail

Tone and Mood

The tone of the poem is bitter, cynical, and ironic, with a touch of reluctant admiration. Donne speaks with emotional intensity and controlled sarcasm, presenting a worldview that is disillusioned and suspicious of both men and women. Despite this harshness, there is also a tone of reluctant honesty—Donne doesn’t seem pleased about his conclusions but feels bound to express them truthfully.

 

Speaker’s Attitude

The speaker begins with a bold confession: he hates “perfectly all this town.” However, his hatred is not without nuance. He acknowledges that every street contains beauty (in the form of at least one fair woman) and deceit (in the form of at least one false man). This sets up a paradox: the world is full of appealing appearances and yet deeply untrustworthy at its core.

As the speaker reflects on various people—across different ranks and ages—he concludes that the safest and wisest course is to love no one at all. In his view, the chances of being deceived or hurt outweigh any potential for true love or loyalty.

 

Themes

1. Disillusionment with Society

The speaker expresses a profound disappointment with humanity. He doesn’t find genuine goodness commonly, and he views most interactions as tainted by falseness or vice. This reflects a broader theme of alienation and mistrust.

2. Love and Wisdom

Donne explores the idea that it is wiser not to love at all than to love selectively. He pits emotional vulnerability against intellectual caution. The speaker values wisdom that avoids entanglement over the romantic or idealistic notion of loving someone despite the risks.

3. Virtue vs. Vice

The poem blurs the lines between good and evil. Donne admits that virtue can be “perverse” (perhaps hypocritical or misused), and that vice can sometimes be praised or respected (e.g., people enduring wrong or hiding cruelty under strength). This moral ambiguity suggests that the speaker finds little clarity or comfort in traditional definitions of right and wrong.

4. Isolation and Rarity of Goodness

In the end, Donne concedes that some people are genuinely good. But these individuals are “far ’twixt, and few”—they exist, but they are rare and distant. This reinforces the speaker’s emotional isolation: even the worthy ones are too scarce to anchor his trust or affection.

 

Poetic Devices

Paradox: The speaker hates the town yet acknowledges beauty and rare goodness within it.

Irony: It is ironic that love, usually seen as noble, is considered unwise here; and vice, often condemned, is acknowledged as having strategic merit.

Alliteration: Soft repetitions (like “Perfectly all this town”) add rhythm and reinforce emphasis.

Antithesis: Donne frequently contrasts ideas—beauty vs. falseness, virtue vs. vice, love vs. wisdom.

Colloquial address: The poem begins like a spoken conversation (“Sir; though…”), giving it a dramatic and personal tone.

 

Context

John Donne, a metaphysical poet, often wrestled with themes of love, sin, trust, and spiritual conflict. This poem fits within his body of work that questions appearances, challenges conventional morality, and reveals the complexities of human nature. It likely reflects his own inner conflicts as a man deeply engaged in both worldly and spiritual matters.

 

Conclusion

“Sir; though (I thank God for it) I do hate” is a tightly constructed and emotionally potent poem that captures John Donne’s disillusionment with the social and moral world around him. Though brief, it’s layered with irony, skepticism, and reluctant admiration for the very goodness that is so rarely found. The speaker’s decision to withdraw from love and society is not one of joy but of resigned self-preservation.

 

Possible Exam Questions

What does the speaker confess about his feelings toward the town?

 

According to the speaker, what is common in every street of the town?

 

What reason does the speaker give for choosing to love no one?

 

How does the speaker describe virtue and vice in the poem?

 

What does the speaker ultimately say about people who are truly good?

 

Read the following lines and answer the questions that follow:

“Virtue hath some perverseness, and vices / Have some place in their praise; they shew degrees / Of doing ill, and of enduring wrong.”

What does the speaker mean by “virtue hath some perverseness”?

How are vices presented as praiseworthy in the poem?

How do these lines reflect the speaker’s views on morality?

 

Discuss the theme of disillusionment with society in Donne’s poem.

 

Explain how Donne explores the contrast between love and wisdom in this poem.

 

How does the speaker use irony to convey his message? Support your answer with examples.

 

Examine the speaker’s tone throughout the poem. How does it enhance the meaning of the poem?

 

Evaluate the ending of the poem. Why does the speaker say he must love the good people ‘less’?

 

Write a critical appreciation of the poem, focusing on its style, tone, and philosophical depth.

 

How does John Donne use paradox and contrast to develop the central ideas in this poem?