William Shakespeare, often hailed as the greatest playwright and poet in the English language, has left an indelible mark on literature with his timeless works. His plays and sonnets are replete with profound wisdom, intricate emotions, and vivid imagery, making his quotes resonate across centuries. Here is an exploration of 100 of the most famous quotes by William Shakespeare, showcasing his unparalleled ability to capture the essence of the human experience.
1. “To be, or not to be: that is the question.”
From “Hamlet,” this iconic soliloquy delves into the nature of existence and the contemplation of life and death. The character Hamlet ponders the struggles of life and the fear of the unknown in death, reflecting deep existential angst.
2. “All the world’s a stage, and all the men and women merely players.”
In “As You Like It,” Shakespeare likens life to a play, emphasizing the roles we all perform throughout our lives. This metaphor illustrates the various stages of life and the inevitable changes we undergo.
3. “Romeo, Romeo! wherefore art thou Romeo?”
This famous line from “Romeo and Juliet” is often misunderstood. Juliet is not questioning Romeo’s whereabouts but lamenting the fact that he is a Montague, the family her own family is feuding with.
4. “A horse! a horse! my kingdom for a horse!”
In “Richard III,” King Richard III desperately cries out for a horse during battle, signifying the dire straits he finds himself in and the futility of his power without the means to escape.
5. “If music be the food of love, play on.”
From “Twelfth Night,” this opening line sets the tone for the play, expressing Duke Orsino’s deep longing for love and his desire to be consumed by it.
6. “The course of true love never did run smooth.”
Lysander in “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” acknowledges the challenges and obstacles that lovers often face, a theme prevalent in many of Shakespeare’s works.
7. “Now is the winter of our discontent.”
In “Richard III,” this line signifies the end of a period of unhappiness and the beginning of a more prosperous era, though it is spoken by the villainous Richard, adding a layer of irony.
8. “Some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon them.”
From “Twelfth Night,” this quote reflects on the nature of greatness and how it can be inherent, earned, or unexpectedly bestowed upon someone.
9. “Cowards die many times before their deaths; the valiant never taste of death but once.”
In “Julius Caesar,” Caesar reflects on the nature of fear and death, suggesting that those who live courageously face death only once, while cowards experience it repeatedly through their fears.
10. “Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears.”
Mark Antony’s speech in “Julius Caesar” is a masterclass in rhetoric, as he seeks to sway the public against the conspirators who assassinated Caesar, using this opening to command attention.
11. “The lady doth protest too much, methinks.”
From “Hamlet,” Queen Gertrude’s observation suggests that excessive protesting can indicate insincerity or guilt, a line that has entered common parlance.
12. “Out, damned spot! out, I say!”
Lady Macbeth’s line in “Macbeth” reveals her overwhelming guilt and descent into madness as she imagines bloodstains on her hands that she cannot wash away.
13. “Parting is such sweet sorrow.”
Juliet’s words to Romeo in “Romeo and Juliet” capture the bittersweet nature of saying goodbye to a loved one, a blend of sadness and the anticipation of future reunion.
14. “What’s in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet.”
Juliet argues that names themselves do not alter the essence of what they represent, reflecting on the arbitrary nature of familial conflict in “Romeo and Juliet.”
15. “Brevity is the soul of wit.”
In “Hamlet,” Polonius ironically claims that being concise is the essence of intelligence and wit, though he himself is verbose and long-winded.
16. “Et tu, Brute?”
Caesar’s last words in “Julius Caesar” express his shock and betrayal upon seeing his friend Brutus among his assassins, epitomizing the ultimate act of betrayal.
17. “Double, double toil and trouble; fire burn and caldron bubble.”
The witches in “Macbeth” chant this incantation, creating an atmosphere of dark magic and foreboding, setting the tone for the play’s tragic events.
18. “All that glitters is not gold.”
In “The Merchant of Venice,” this line warns against valuing things based solely on their appearance, a timeless caution about superficial judgments.
19. “Good night, good night! Parting is such sweet sorrow, that I shall say good night till it be morrow.”
Juliet’s farewell to Romeo in “Romeo and Juliet” is filled with longing and the hope of seeing him again soon, capturing the intensity of young love.
20. “The better part of Valour, is Discretion.”
In “Henry IV, Part 1,” Falstaff humorously suggests that being cautious and avoiding unnecessary danger is the wisest form of bravery.
21. “But, soft! what light through yonder window breaks? It is the east, and Juliet is the sun.”
Romeo’s adoration for Juliet in “Romeo and Juliet” is beautifully expressed in this line, comparing her to the rising sun and her effect on his life.
22. “This above all: to thine own self be true.”
Polonius’s advice to Laertes in “Hamlet” underscores the importance of integrity and staying true to one’s principles.
23. “The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars, but in ourselves, that we are underlings.”
In “Julius Caesar,” Cassius argues that people are responsible for their own fate, rather than attributing their misfortunes to destiny.
24. “We are such stuff as dreams are made on, and our little life is rounded with a sleep.”
Prospero’s reflection in “The Tempest” highlights the ephemeral nature of life and the dream-like quality of our existence.
25. “Hell is empty and all the devils are here.”
Ariel’s line in “The Tempest” conveys the chaos and malevolence unleashed by humans, suggesting that the real danger lies in human actions.
26. “There is nothing either good or bad, but thinking makes it so.”
In “Hamlet,” Shakespeare explores the subjective nature of reality and how our perceptions shape our understanding of the world.
27. “Though she be but little, she is fierce.”
From “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” this line celebrates the strength and ferocity that can be found in seemingly small or delicate individuals.
28. “Love looks not with the eyes, but with the mind, and therefore is winged Cupid painted blind.”
Helena in “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” muses on the nature of love, suggesting that it transcends physical appearance and is guided by deeper connections.
29. “The lunatic, the lover, and the poet are of imagination all compact.”
In “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” Theseus reflects on the common thread of imagination that links madness, love, and creativity.
30. “The robbed that smiles, steals something from the thief.”
In “Othello,” the Duke suggests that maintaining composure and grace in the face of loss can diminish the triumph of the wrongdoer.
31. “Be not afraid of greatness: some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon them.”
In “Twelfth Night,” this line reflects the varied paths to greatness, encouraging acceptance and embrace of one’s potential.
32. “The evil that men do lives after them; the good is oft interred with their bones.”
Mark Antony’s speech in “Julius Caesar” poignantly notes how negative actions often outlive positive deeds, influencing how individuals are remembered.
33. “There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of in your philosophy.”
In “Hamlet,” this line acknowledges the vast unknown and the limitations of human understanding.
34. “Beware the ides of March.”
The soothsayer’s warning to Caesar in “Julius Caesar” foreshadows his assassination and highlights the theme of fate and forewarning.
35. “If we shadows have offended, think but this, and all is mended, that you have but slumbered here while these visions did appear.”
Puck’s closing lines in “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” suggest that the fantastical events of the play might be dismissed as a dream, blurring the line between reality and illusion.
36. “It is a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing.”
Macbeth’s reflection on life in “Macbeth” conveys a sense of existential despair and the fleeting, chaotic nature of existence.
37. “The wheel is come full circle: I am here.”
In “King Lear,” Edmund acknowledges the inevitability of fate and the cyclical nature of life and justice.
38. “Love all, trust a few, do wrong to none.”
This line from “All’s Well That Ends Well” offers practical wisdom on how to navigate relationships and maintain integrity.
39. “We know what we are, but know not what we may be.”
In “Hamlet,” Ophelia reflects on the uncertainty of the future and the potential for change and growth within each individual.
40. “Lord, what fools these mortals be!”
Puck’s observation in “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” highlights the folly and absurdity often inherent in human behavior, especially in matters of love.
41. “When shall we three meet again in thunder, lightning, or in rain?”
The opening line of “Macbeth” spoken by the witches sets the ominous and supernatural tone of the play.
42. “The better part of valor is discretion; in the which better part I have saved my life.”
Falstaff humorously justifies his cowardice in “Henry IV, Part 1,” suggesting that prudence is an essential component of bravery.
43. “Et tu, Brute? Then fall, Caesar.”
Caesar’s last words in “Julius Caesar” signify his ultimate betrayal by Brutus, a friend he trusted.
44. “For never was a story of more woe than this of Juliet and her Romeo.”
The closing lines of “Romeo and Juliet” underscore the tragic fate of the young lovers and the senselessness of their deaths.
45. “By the pricking of my thumbs, something wicked this way comes.”
In “Macbeth,” the witches sense the approach of Macbeth, foreshadowing his descent into evil and madness.
46. “O, beware, my lord, of jealousy; it is the green-eyed monster which doth mock the meat it feeds on.”
Iago warns Othello of jealousy’s destructive power in “Othello,” even as he manipulates him into succumbing to it.
47. “The web of our life is of a mingled yarn, good and ill together.”
This line from “All’s Well That Ends Well” reflects the complex and intertwined nature of life’s fortunes and misfortunes.
48. “Men at some time are masters of their fates.”
Cassius in “Julius Caesar” suggests that individuals have the power to shape their own destinies, rather than being controlled by fate.
49. “Poor naked wretches, wheresoe’er you are, that bide the pelting of this pitiless storm.”
In “King Lear,” Lear expresses compassion for the suffering of the common people, recognizing their vulnerability.
50. “Some rise by sin, and some by virtue fall.”
In “Measure for Measure,” this line reflects the complex interplay of morality and fortune in determining individuals’ fates.
51. “O brave new world, that has such people in’t!”
Miranda’s exclamation in “The Tempest” expresses wonder and optimism about the new experiences and people she encounters.
52. “The time is out of joint: O cursed spite, that ever I was born to set it right!”
In “Hamlet,” Hamlet laments the chaotic state of the world and the heavy burden placed upon him to restore order.
53. “True is it that we have seen better days.”
This line from “As You Like It” acknowledges past prosperity and current decline, a reflection on the ups and downs of life.
54. “This is the very ecstasy of love.”
Polonius describes the intense and irrational nature of love in “Hamlet,” attributing Ophelia’s behavior to her infatuation with Hamlet.
55. “The miserable have no other medicine but only hope.”
In “Measure for Measure,” this line highlights the essential role of hope in sustaining those who are suffering.
56. “We are such stuff as dreams are made on, and our little life is rounded with a sleep.”
Prospero’s reflection in “The Tempest” on the ephemeral nature of life and the dream-like quality of human existence.
57. “I am one who loved not wisely but too well.”
Othello’s tragic self-assessment in “Othello” reveals his realization of the destructive consequences of his intense, unwise love for Desdemona.
58. “If chance will have me king, why, chance may crown me.”
In “Macbeth,” Macbeth contemplates the role of fate and destiny in his rise to power, questioning whether he should act or let events unfold.
59. “The fool doth think he is wise, but the wise man knows himself to be a fool.”
In “As You Like It,” Touchstone humorously contrasts the self-delusion of fools with the humility of the truly wise.
60. “Things without all remedy should be without regard: what’s done is done.”
Lady Macbeth in “Macbeth” advises letting go of the past, emphasizing that actions cannot be undone.
61. “The quality of mercy is not strain’d, it droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven upon the place beneath.”
Portia’s speech in “The Merchant of Venice” eloquently argues for the compassionate and natural quality of mercy.
62. “There is a tide in the affairs of men, which, taken at the flood, leads on to fortune.”
In “Julius Caesar,” Brutus speaks of seizing opportunities at the right moment to achieve success.
63. “Give me my robe, put on my crown; I have immortal longings in me.”
Cleopatra’s words in “Antony and Cleopatra” reflect her desire for death and reunion with Antony, portraying her defiant dignity.
64. “One touch of nature makes the whole world kin.”
In “Troilus and Cressida,” Ulysses notes the universal bonds and commonalities among humans, emphasizing shared experiences.
65. “How far that little candle throws its beams! So shines a good deed in a weary world.”
In “The Merchant of Venice,” this line highlights the profound impact of kindness and goodness in a troubled world.
66. “How sharper than a serpent’s tooth it is to have a thankless child!”
King Lear’s lament in “King Lear” expresses the deep pain caused by the ingratitude of his daughters.
67. “What’s done cannot be undone.”
Lady Macbeth in “Macbeth” acknowledges the irreversibility of their actions, particularly the murder of King Duncan.
68. “When sorrows come, they come not single spies, but in battalions.”
In “Hamlet,” Claudius reflects on the overwhelming nature of grief and misfortune, suggesting that troubles often come in waves.
69. “My bounty is as boundless as the sea, my love as deep.”
Juliet’s declaration of her love for Romeo in “Romeo and Juliet” conveys the immense and limitless nature of her feelings.
70. “There is no darkness but ignorance.”
In “Twelfth Night,” Feste comments on the blinding nature of ignorance, equating it with the absence of light and understanding.
71. “I am a man more sinned against than sinning.”
King Lear in “King Lear” believes he has suffered more wrongs than he has committed, expressing his sense of injustice.
72. “It is not in the stars to hold our destiny but in ourselves.”
Cassius in “Julius Caesar” asserts the power of human agency over fate, encouraging self-determination.
73. “Come what come may, time and the hour runs through the roughest day.”
In “Macbeth,” this line reflects the passage of time and the endurance required to overcome difficult periods.
74. “I would not wish any companion in the world but you.”
Miranda’s words to Ferdinand in “The Tempest” express her exclusive and devoted love for him.
75. “He jests at scars that never felt a wound.”
Romeo in “Romeo and Juliet” notes how easy it is to mock pain when one has never experienced it, highlighting the disconnect between experience and perception.
76. “My only love sprung from my only hate!”
Juliet in “Romeo and Juliet” laments the irony of falling in love with Romeo, a member of the rival Montague family.
77. “How poor are they that have not patience!”
Iago in “Othello” suggests that impatience can lead to poor decisions and missed opportunities, highlighting the virtue of patience.
78. “O, what a rogue and peasant slave am I!”
In “Hamlet,” Hamlet chastises himself for his inaction and lack of resolve, revealing his inner turmoil and self-doubt.
79. “Life’s but a walking shadow, a poor player that struts and frets his hour upon the stage and then is heard no more.”
Macbeth’s reflection in “Macbeth” on the fleeting and insubstantial nature of life, likening it to a brief and inconsequential performance.
80. “What’s past is prologue.”
In “The Tempest,” Antonio suggests that past events merely set the stage for what is to come, emphasizing the importance of the present and future.
81. “O, that way madness lies; let me shun that; no more of that.”
King Lear in “King Lear” recognizes the danger of dwelling on certain thoughts, fearing they will lead him to madness.
82. “Such stuff as dreams are made on.”
Prospero’s words in “The Tempest” capture the ephemeral and illusory nature of life, a theme that permeates the play.
83. “Our doubts are traitors, and make us lose the good we oft might win by fearing to attempt.”
In “Measure for Measure,” Lucio highlights how self-doubt can sabotage opportunities and success, urging us to overcome fear and take action.
84. “A fool thinks himself to be wise, but a wise man knows himself to be a fool.”
In “As You Like It,” Touchstone’s observation underscores the difference between arrogance and true wisdom.
85. “My mistress’ eyes are nothing like the sun.”
From Sonnet 130, Shakespeare subverts traditional poetic comparisons, celebrating the realistic and imperfect nature of his beloved.
86. “The devil can cite Scripture for his purpose.”
In “The Merchant of Venice,” Antonio warns that even those with ill intentions can use good things, like Scripture, to justify their actions.
87. “Better three hours too soon than a minute too late.”
In “The Merry Wives of Windsor,” this line emphasizes the importance of punctuality and the value of being early.
88. “Frailty, thy name is woman!”
Hamlet’s exclamation in “Hamlet” reflects his deep disappointment and anger towards his mother, Queen Gertrude.
89. “Lord, what fools these mortals be!”
Puck’s observation in “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” highlights the irrationality and folly of human behavior, particularly in matters of love.
90. “If to do were as easy as to know what were good to do, chapels had been churches, and poor men’s cottages princes’ palaces.”
In “The Merchant of Venice,” this line suggests the gap between knowing the right thing to do and actually doing it.
91. “Is this a dagger which I see before me, the handle toward my hand?”
In “Macbeth,” Macbeth hallucinates a dagger leading him to murder King Duncan, reflecting his inner turmoil and descent into madness.
92. “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’s advice to Laertes in “Hamlet” underscores the importance of personal integrity and authenticity.
93. “Uneasy lies the head that wears a crown.”
In “Henry IV, Part 2,” King Henry IV reflects on the burdens and responsibilities of leadership.
94. “In time we hate that which we often fear.”
In “Antony and Cleopatra,” this line suggests that familiarity with something feared can breed contempt and hatred.
95. “Love sought is good, but given unsought, is better.”
In “Twelfth Night,” Olivia’s reflection highlights the greater value of love freely given rather than actively pursued.
96. “Wisely and slow; they stumble that run fast.”
Friar Laurence’s advice to Romeo in “Romeo and Juliet” emphasizes the need for caution and deliberation in important matters.
97. “All’s well that ends well.”
The title of the play “All’s Well That Ends Well” suggests that a happy outcome can justify any previous difficulties or challenges.
98. “There was never yet philosopher that could endure the toothache patiently.”
In “Much Ado About Nothing,” this line humorously points out that even the wisest people struggle with physical pain.
99. “How sharper than a serpent’s tooth it is to have a thankless child!”
In “King Lear,” Lear laments the pain caused by his daughters’ ingratitude and betrayal.
100. “We few, we happy few, we band of brothers.”
In “Henry V,” King Henry V’s speech before the Battle of Agincourt emphasizes camaraderie and the strong bonds forged in adversity.
These quotes, spanning Shakespeare’s plays and sonnets, encapsulate the profound and diverse insights he had into human nature, love, power, fate, and the myriad facets of life. Through these words, Shakespeare’s genius continues to resonate, offering timeless reflections and wisdom.
