William Shakespeare quotes

To be, or not to be, that is the question: Whether ’tis nobler in the mind to suffer The slings and arrows of outrageous fortune, Or to take arms against a sea of troubles, And by opposing end them?

— Hamlet · Act III, Scene I — A room in the Castle

There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, Than are dreamt of in your philosophy.

— Hamlet · Act I, Scene V — A more remote part of the Castle

This above all: to thine own self be true; And it must follow, as the night the day, Thou canst not then be false to any man.

— Polonius · Act I, Scene III — A room in Polonius’s house

Something is rotten in the state of Denmark.

— Marcellus · Act I, Scene IV — The platform

The rest is silence.

— Hamlet · Act V, Scene II — A hall in the Castle

Neither a borrower nor a lender be: For loan oft loses both itself and friend; And borrowing dulls the edge of husbandry.

— Polonius · Act I, Scene III — A room in Polonius’s house

Alas, poor Yorick. I knew him, Horatio, a fellow of infinite jest, of most excellent fancy.

— Hamlet · Act V, Scene I — A churchyard

The play’s the thing Wherein I’ll catch the conscience of the King.

— Hamlet · Act II, Scene II — A room in the Castle

The time is out of joint. O cursed spite, That ever I was born to set it right.

— Hamlet · Act I, Scene V — A more remote part of the Castle

Therefore, since brevity is the soul of wit, And tediousness the limbs and outward flourishes, I will be brief.

— Polonius · Act II, Scene II — A room in the Castle

BALTHASAR Small cheer and great welcome makes a merry feast.

— Balthasar · Act III, Scene I — The same

Nay, then, thus: We came into the world like brother and brother, And now let’s go hand in hand, not one before another.

— Dromio Of Ephesus · Act V, Scene I — The same

Ay, sir, and wherefore; for they say, every why hath a wherefore.

— Dromio Of Syracuse · Act II, Scene II — The same

Along with them They brought one Pinch, a hungry lean-faced villain, A mere anatomy, a mountebank, A threadbare juggler, and a fortune-teller; A needy, hollow-ey’d, sharp-looking wretch; A living dead man.

— Antipholus Of Ephesus · Act V, Scene I — The same

Marry, he must have a long spoon that must eat with the devil.

— Dromio Of Syracuse · Act IV, Scene III — The same

With her I liv’d in joy; our wealth increas’d By prosperous voyages I often made To Epidamnum, till my factor’s death, And the great care of goods at random left, Drew me from kind embracements of my spouse; From whom my absence was not six months old Before herself (almost at fainting under The pleasing punishment that women bear) Had made provision for her following me, And soon and safe arrived where I was.

— Egeon · Act I, Scene I — A hall in the Duke’s palace

No longer from head to foot than from hip to hip. She is spherical, like a globe. I could find out countries in her.

— Dromio Of Syracuse · Act III, Scene II — The same

No, It is thyself, mine own self’s better part, Mine eye’s clear eye, my dear heart’s dearer heart, My food, my fortune, and my sweet hope’s aim, My sole earth’s heaven, and my heaven’s claim.

— Antipholus Of Syracuse · Act III, Scene II — The same

Time is a very bankrupt, and owes more than he’s worth to season. Nay, he’s a thief too. Have you not heard men say That time comes stealing on by night and day?

— Dromio Of Syracuse · Act IV, Scene II — The same

If everyone knows us, and we know none, ’Tis time, I think, to trudge, pack and be gone.

— Antipholus Of Syracuse · Act III, Scene II — The same

Lord, what fools these mortals be!

— Puck · Act III, Scene II — Another part of the wood

For aught that I could ever read, Could ever hear by tale or history, The course of true love never did run smooth.

— Lysander · Act I, Scene I — Athens. A room in the Palace of Theseus

She was a vixen when she went to school, And though she be but little, she is fierce.

— Helena · Act III, Scene II — Another part of the wood

Love looks not with the eyes, but with the mind; And therefore is wing’d Cupid painted blind.

— Helena · Act I, Scene I — Athens. A room in the Palace of Theseus

I know a bank where the wild thyme blows, Where oxlips and the nodding violet grows, Quite over-canopied with luscious woodbine, With sweet musk-roses, and with eglantine.

— Oberon · Act II, Scene I — A wood near Athens

Ill met by moonlight, proud Titania.

— Oberon · Act II, Scene I — A wood near Athens

I have had a dream, past the wit of man to say what dream it was.

— Bottom · Act IV, Scene I — The Wood

The best in this kind are but shadows; and the worst are no worse, if imagination amend them.

— Theseus · Act V, Scene I — Athens. An Apartment in the Palace of Theseus

And yet, to say the truth, reason and love keep little company together nowadays.

— Bottom · Act III, Scene I — The Wood

I’ll follow thee, and make a heaven of hell, To die upon the hand I love so well.

— Helena · Act II, Scene I — A wood near Athens

Tomorrow, and tomorrow, and tomorrow, Creeps in this petty pace from day to day, To the last syllable of recorded time; And all our yesterdays have lighted fools The way to dusty death.

— Macbeth · Act V, Scene V — Dunsinane. Within the castle

Life’s but a walking shadow; a poor player, That struts and frets his hour upon the stage, And then is heard no more: it is a tale Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, Signifying nothing.

— Macbeth · Act V, Scene V — Dunsinane. Within the castle

Double, double, toil and trouble; Fire, burn; and cauldron, bubble.

— All · Act IV, Scene I — A dark Cave. In the middle, a Cauldron Boiling

Fair is foul, and foul is fair: Hover through the fog and filthy air.

— All · Act I, Scene I — An open Place

By the pricking of my thumbs, Something wicked this way comes.

— Second Witch · Act IV, Scene I — A dark Cave. In the middle, a Cauldron Boiling

Will all great Neptune’s ocean wash this blood Clean from my hand? No, this my hand will rather The multitudinous seas incarnadine, Making the green one red.

— Macbeth · Act II, Scene II — The same

It will have blood, they say, blood will have blood.

— Macbeth · Act III, Scene IV — The same. A Room of state in the Palace

Come, you spirits That tend on mortal thoughts, unsex me here, And fill me, from the crown to the toe, top-full Of direst cruelty! make thick my blood, Stop up th’ access and passage to remorse, That no compunctious visitings of nature Shake my fell purpose, nor keep peace between Th’ effect and it!

— Lady Macbeth · Act I, Scene V — Inverness. A Room in Macbeth’s Castle

So foul and fair a day I have not seen.

— Macbeth · Act I, Scene III — A heath

Be bloody, bold, and resolute. Laugh to scorn The power of man, for none of woman born Shall harm Macbeth.

— Apparition · Act IV, Scene I — A dark Cave. In the middle, a Cauldron Boiling

Nothing will come of nothing: speak again.

— Lear · Act I, Scene I — A Room of State in King Lear’s Palace

As flies to wanton boys are we to the gods, They kill us for their sport.

— Gloucester · Act IV, Scene I — The heath

The weight of this sad time we must obey; Speak what we feel, not what we ought to say.

— Edgar · Act V, Scene III — The British Camp near Dover

Men must endure Their going hence, even as their coming hither; Ripeness is all.

— Edgar · Act V, Scene II — A field between the two Camps

Let it stamp wrinkles in her brow of youth; With cadent tears fret channels in her cheeks; Turn all her mother’s pains and benefits To laughter and contempt; that she may feel How sharper than a serpent’s tooth it is To have a thankless child!

— Lear · Act I, Scene IV — A Hall in Albany’s Palace

Thou’lt come no more, Never, never, never, never, never!

— Lear · Act V, Scene III — The British Camp near Dover

Who is it that can tell me who I am?

— Lear · Act I, Scene IV — A Hall in Albany’s Palace

I am a man More sinn’d against than sinning.

— Lear · Act III, Scene II — Another part of the heath

When we our betters see bearing our woes, We scarcely think our miseries our foes.

— Edgar · Act III, Scene VI — A Chamber in a Farmhouse adjoining the Castle

And worse I may be yet. The worst is not So long as we can say ‘This is the worst.’

— Edgar · Act IV, Scene I — The heath

Sweet are the uses of adversity, Which, like the toad, ugly and venomous, Wears yet a precious jewel in his head; And this our life, exempt from public haunt, Finds tongues in trees, books in the running brooks, Sermons in stones, and good in everything.

— Duke Senior · Act II, Scene I — The Forest of Arden

All the world’s a stage, And all the men and women merely players; They have their exits and their entrances, And one man in his time plays many parts, His acts being seven ages.

— Jaques · Act II, Scene VII — Another part of the Forest

“The fool doth think he is wise, but the wise man knows himself to be a fool.”

— Touchstone · Act V, Scene I — The Forest of Arden

Why then, can one desire too much of a good thing?

— Rosalind · Act IV, Scene I — The Forest of Arden

And so from hour to hour we ripe and ripe, And then from hour to hour we rot and rot, And thereby hangs a tale.

— Jaques · Act II, Scene VII — Another part of the Forest

Men have died from time to time and worms have eaten them, but not for love.

— Rosalind · Act IV, Scene I — The Forest of Arden

Most friendship is feigning, most loving mere folly.

— Amiens · Act II, Scene VII — Another part of the Forest

I pray you do not fall in love with me, For I am falser than vows made in wine.

— Rosalind · Act III, Scene V — Another part of the Forest

O, how full of briers is this working-day world!

— Rosalind · Act I, Scene III — A Room in the Palace

Do you not know I am a woman? When I think, I must speak.

— Rosalind · Act III, Scene II — The Forest of Arden

O, beware, my lord, of jealousy; It is the green-ey’d monster which doth mock The meat it feeds on.

— Iago · Act III, Scene III — Cyprus. The Garden of the Castle

For when my outward action doth demonstrate The native act and figure of my heart In complement extern, ’tis not long after But I will wear my heart upon my sleeve For daws to peck at: I am not what I am.

— Iago · Act I, Scene I — Venice. A street

Put out the light, and then put out the light: If I quench thee, thou flaming minister, I can again thy former light restore, Should I repent me.

— Othello · Act V, Scene II — Cyprus. A Bedchamber in the castle

Excellent wretch! Perdition catch my soul, But I do love thee! And when I love thee not, Chaos is come again.

— Othello · Act III, Scene III — Cyprus. The Garden of the Castle

Villain, be sure thou prove my love a whore; Be sure of it. Give me the ocular proof, Or, by the worth of man’s eternal soul, Thou hadst been better have been born a dog Than answer my wak’d wrath.

— Othello · Act III, Scene III — Cyprus. The Garden of the Castle

The Moor is of a free and open nature That thinks men honest that but seem to be so, And will as tenderly be led by the nose As asses are.

— Iago · Act I, Scene III — Venice. A council chamber

Good name in man and woman, dear my lord, Is the immediate jewel of their souls.

— Iago · Act III, Scene III — Cyprus. The Garden of the Castle

Reputation, reputation, reputation! O, I have lost my reputation!

— Cassio · Act II, Scene III — A Hall in the Castle

Men should be what they seem; Or those that be not, would they might seem none!

— Iago · Act III, Scene III — Cyprus. The Garden of the Castle

Demand me nothing. What you know, you know. From this time forth I never will speak word.

— Iago · Act V, Scene II — Cyprus. A Bedchamber in the castle

Deny thy father and refuse thy name. Or if thou wilt not, be but sworn my love, And I’ll no longer be a Capulet.

— Juliet · Act II, Scene II — Capulet’s Garden

These violent delights have violent ends, And in their triumph die; like fire and powder, Which as they kiss consume.

— Friar Lawrence · Act II, Scene VI — Friar Lawrence’s Cell

Did my heart love till now? Forswear it, sight! For I ne’er saw true beauty till this night.

— Romeo · Act I, Scene V — A Hall in Capulet’s House

That which we call a rose By any other name would smell as sweet; So Romeo would, were he not Romeo call’d, Retain that dear perfection which he owes Without that title.

— Juliet · Act II, Scene II — Capulet’s Garden

But soft, what light through yonder window breaks? It is the east, and Juliet is the sun!

— Romeo · Act II, Scene II — Capulet’s Garden

Good night, good night. Parting is such sweet sorrow That I shall say good night till it be morrow.

— Juliet · Act II, Scene II — Capulet’s Garden

And yet I wish but for the thing I have; My bounty is as boundless as the sea, My love as deep; the more I give to thee, The more I have, for both are infinite.

— Juliet · Act II, Scene II — Capulet’s Garden

See how she leans her cheek upon her hand. O that I were a glove upon that hand, That I might touch that cheek.

— Romeo · Act II, Scene II — Capulet’s Garden

He jests at scars that never felt a wound.

— Romeo · Act II, Scene II — Capulet’s Garden

O, I am fortune’s fool!

— Romeo · Act III, Scene I — A public Place

Cowards die many times before their deaths; The valiant never taste of death but once.

— Caesar · Act II, Scene II — A room in Caesar’s palace

Men at some time are masters of their fates: The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars, But in ourselves, that we are underlings.

— Cassius · Act I, Scene II — The same. A public place

All that glisters is not gold, Often haue you heard that told; Many a man his life hath sold But my outside to behold; Guilded timber doe wormes infold: Had you beene as wise as bold, Yong in limbs, in iudgement old, Your answere had not beene inscrold, Fareyouwell, your suite is cold, Mor.

— Mor · Shakespeare's First Folio (part 2 of 12)

Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears; I come to bury Cæsar, not to praise him.

The quality of mercy is not strain’d, It droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven Upon the place beneath.

Once more unto the breach, dear friends, once more, Or close the wall up with our English dead.

— King Henry · Act III, Scene I — France. Before Harfleur