Don't waste your love on somebody, who doesn't value it.

The line expresses a pragmatic ethic of affection: love is precious and should be directed toward those capable of recognizing and reciprocating it. It warns against self-diminishment—continuing to give emotional energy where it is ignored or exploited—and implies that self-respect includes setting boundaries around one’s care. Although often attributed to Shakespeare, the sentiment aligns broadly with themes found in early modern drama and poetry (unrequited love, misdirected devotion, the costs of idealization). In modern usage, it functions as advice about emotional economy and mutuality in relationships rather than as a specifically Shakespearean dramatic utterance.