King Lear quotes

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

Blow, winds, and crack your cheeks! Rage! blow!

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

Pray, do not mock me: I am a very foolish fond old man, Fourscore and upward, not an hour more nor less; And to deal plainly, I fear I am not in my perfect mind.

— Lear · Act IV, Scene VII — A Tent in the French Camp

No, no, no, no. Come, let’s away to prison: We two alone will sing like birds i’ the cage: When thou dost ask me blessing I’ll kneel down And ask of thee forgiveness.

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

O, reason not the need: our basest beggars Are in the poorest thing superfluous: Allow not nature more than nature needs, Man’s life is cheap as beast’s.

— Lear · Act II, Scene IV — Before Gloucester’s Castle; Kent in the stocks

Thou art the thing itself: unaccommodated man is no more but such a poor, bare, forked animal as thou art.

— Lear · Act III, Scene IV — A part of the Heath with a Hovel

Thou shouldst not have been old till thou hadst been wise.

— Fool · Act I, Scene V — Court before the Duke of Albany’s Palace

The art of our necessities is strange, That can make vile things precious.

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

Unhappy that I am, I cannot heave My heart into my mouth: I love your majesty According to my bond; no more nor less.

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

The prince of darkness is a gentleman: Modo he’s call’d, and Mahu.

— Edgar · Act III, Scene IV — A part of the Heath with a Hovel

Mark it, nuncle: Have more than thou showest, Speak less than thou knowest, Lend less than thou owest, Ride more than thou goest, Learn more than thou trowest, Set less than thou throwest; Leave thy drink and thy whore, And keep in-a-door, And thou shalt have more Than two tens to a score.

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