Even though emotion may arise, giving up virtue on words alone brings trouble and heartbreak. In Act 1 of the play Hamlet, Shakespeare shows this through Ophelia and Laertes conversation about Ophelia's and Hamlet's relationship. One reason Laertes has is that though Hamlet is the prince and has certain responsibilities to marry for the state. Another reason that he bring up is about the possibility of a child being born. The last reason he gives is that she will lose honor and everyone will know of it.
Hamlet has a duty to his country before his heart. This means that even though Hamlet may actually love Ophelia he will have to marry for the safety and health of Denmark before he can think about anything else. Laertes points this out to show Ophelia that the path she is headed towards is doomed for failure and hurt, not anything more. Laertes shows this using a image of a body as the marriage and the country as a whole and Hamlet in control of the head and speech but nothing else. This helps cast a different light on Hamlet for Ophelia and helping try to heed her brothers advice.
Children, they wanted especially for princes who will become king and need airs. But it's not necessarily great for the mother who, like Ophelia would be a mistress not a wife, would be looked down upon. Pregnancy before marriage can cause serious damage to the family of the girl, causing it to be difficult to have marriage to another person. But not only that it would cut short the days of being a kid herself and push her into something she would most likely be ready for, motherhood. This advice push Ophelia to think about all the trouble it would cause to give Hamlet what he wants.
Imagery is the last tactic Laertes uses to get Ophelia to see that an affair will cause harm more than good. The image of the peoples interesting as the body of the country and Hamlet being the head able to say anything and be able to think for him self shows that he has some control be the main control goes to the people because they will carry out any action that will be right for everyone. This allows Ophelia to see that every action Hamlet takes is always watched and put to question before it is done and that Hamlet has to go after the interest of the whole country, not just of himself when making a decision.
All of these reason together show that giving up honor and virtue for a fleeting love will hurt others more than ones self. Not only do most people not have control over there actions they have to think for others as well when doing anything that has to do with their country. Also there could be consequences that don't just effect the two people involved in the affair. Don't give up that which is a high commodity easily, treasure it until its appropriate to give it up.