"O, beware, my lord, of jealousy! / It is the green-eyed monster which doth mock / The meat it feeds on. That cuckold lives in bliss / Who, certain of his fate, loves not his wronger, / But O, what damned minutes tells he o'er / Who dotes, yet doubts— suspects, yet strongly loves!" (3.3 195-200)
Iago is telling Othello that jealousy will torment him if he isn't careful. If Othello never knows who his wife is actually cheating with, he could still possibly find happiness. Iago is implying that if it is Cassio, Othello won't be able to let that go. He will be blinded with rage and jealousy. At this point, Iago has not yet mentioned Cassio as a suspected cheat. He is trying to get Othello to believe it before he throws Cassio's name into the situation. If he mentioned Cassio then explained what Othello should do, Othello would most likely pick up on Iago's lie. Iago is warning Othello about trusting Desdemona, while planting the seed of jealousy.
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