Let those who are in favour with their stars
Of public honour and proud titles boast,
Whilst I, whom fortune of such triumph bars
Unlook‘d for joy in that I honour most.

Great princes‘ favourites their fair leaves spread
But as the marigold at the sun‘s eye,
And in themselves their pride lies buried,
For at a frown they in their glory die.

The painful warrior famoused for fight,
After a thousand victories once foil‘d,
Is from the book of honour razed quite,
And all the rest forgot for which he toil‘d:

 Then happy I, that love and am belov‘d,
    Where I may not remove nor be remov‘d.

The sonnet 25 explained:

The sonnet is a beautiful and poignant exploration of the fleeting nature of worldly success and the constancy of love. The speaker contrasts those who bask in public honour and proud titles, to their own unlooked-for joy found in what they hold most dear. They reflect on how even the favoured of princes, akin to the marigold seeking the sun, are subject to the impermanence of glory. The respected warrior, despite a history of triumphs, can be erased from the annals of honour with a single defeat. In contrast, the speaker finds happiness in reciprocal and enduring love, where neither they nor their beloved can be moved. This contemplation captures the transient nature of external validation and the enduring nature of love and emotional connection. It’s a powerful testament to the richness found in intimate and genuine relationships amidst the ephemerality of worldly achievements.