Shakespeare had no tutors but nature and genius. He caught his faults from the bad taste of his contemporaries. In an age still less civilized Shakespeare might have been wilder, but would not have been vulgar.

[King René of Anjou (1409-80)] would not listen to the news of his son having lost the Kingdom of Naples, because he would not bedisturbed when painting a picture of a partridge.

I have known men of valor cowards to their wives.

It was easier to conquer it than to know what to do with it.

I can forgive injuries, but never benefits.

The wisest prophets make sure of the event first.

By deafness one gains in one respect more than one loses; one misses more nonsense than sense.