William Shakespeare Quotes

He's mad that trusts in the tameness of a wolf.

That which in mean men we entitle patience is pale cold cowardice in noble breasts.

Avaunt, you cullions!

Prosperity's the very bond of love, Whose fresh complexion and whose heart together Affliction alters.

What's his offense? Groping for trout in a peculiar river.

Thine eyes I love, and they, as pitying me, Knowing thy heart torment me with disdain, Have put on black and loving mourners be, Looking with pretty ruth upon my pain. And truly not the morning sun of heaven Better becomes the grey cheeks of the east, Nor that full star that ushers in the even, Doth half that glory to the sober west, As those two mourning eyes become thy face: O! let it then as well beseem thy heart To mourn for me since mourning doth thee grace, And suit thy pity like in every part. Then will I swear beauty herself is black, And all they foul that thy complexion lack

It is that fery person for all the orld, as just as you will desire; and seven hundred pounds of moneys, and gold, and silver, is her grandsire upon his death's-bed-Got deliver to a joyful resurrections!

Don't waste your love on somebody, who doesn't value it.

Having nothing, nothing can he lose.

Fishes live in the sea, as men do a-land; the great ones eat up the little ones.

[S]ince brevity is the soul of wit, And tediousness the limbs and outward flourishes, I will be brief.

Things may serve long, but not serve ever.

I were better to be eaten to death with a rust than to be scoured to nothing with perpetual motion.

So foul and fair a day I have not seen.

The arms are fair, When the intent of bearing them is just.

Now is the winter of our discontent Made glorious summer by this sun of York; And all the clouds that lour'd upon our house In the deep bosom of the ocean buried.

Cry havoc and let slip the dogs of war!

The force of his own merit makes his way-a gift that heaven gives for him.

[Marriage is] a world-without-end bargain.

Tis beauty that doth oft make women proud; but, God He knows, thy share thereof is small.

What ugly sights of death within mine eyes!

I have very poor and unhappy brains for drinking: I could well wish courtesy would invent some other custom of entertainment.

The fittest time to corrupt a man's wife is when she's fallen out with her husband.

Out, out, brief candle! Life's but a walking shadow.

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

If you spend word for word with me, I shall make your wit bankrupt.

And Crispin Crispian shall ne'er go by, From this day to the ending of the world, But we in it shall be remembered- We few, we happy few, we band of brothers; For he to-day that sheds his blood with me Shall be my brother

A little fire is quickly trodden out, Which, being suffer'd, rivers cannot quench.

Why, i' faith, methinks she's too low for a high praise, too brown for a fair praise and too little for a great praise: only this commendation I can afford her, that were she other than she is, she were unhandsome; and being no other but as she is, I do not like her. (Benedick, from Much Ado About Nothing)

Time shall unfold what plaited cunning hides: Who cover faults, at last shame them derides.

A very ancient and fish-like smell.

The robbed that smiles, steals something from the thief.

By Heaven, I love thee better than myself

Your worm is your only emperor for diet; we fat all creatures else to fat us, and we fat ourselves for maggots.

Nice customs curtsy to great kings.

My pride fell with my fortunes.

You cannot make gross sins look clear: To revenge is no valour, but to bear.

How poor are they that have not patience! What wound did ever heal but by degrees?

I do profess to be no less than I seem; to serve him truly that will put me in trust: to love him that is honest; to converse with him that is wise, and says little; to fear judgment; to fight when I cannot choose; and to eat no fish.

The cunning livery of hell.

If we shadows have offended, Think but this, and all is mended, That you have but slumbered here While these visions did appear. And this weak and idle theme, No more yielding but a dream, Gentles, do not reprehend: If you pardon, we will mend: And, as I am an honest Puck, If we have unearned luck Now to 'scape the serpent's tongue, We will make amends ere long; Else the Puck a liar call; So, good night unto you all. Give me your hands, if we be friends, And Robin shall restore amends.

Men must learn now with pity to dispense; For policy sits above conscience.

His forward voice now is to speak well of his friend. His backward voice is to utter foul speeches and to detract.

Romans, countrymen, and lovers, hear me for my cause, and be silent, that you may hear.

Should the poor be flattered? No; let the candied tongue lick absurd pomp, and crook the pregnant hinges of the knee where thrift may follow fawning.

I am not yet of Percy's mind, the Hotspur of the North; he that kills me some six or seven dozen of Scots as a breakfast, washes his hands, and says to his wife, 'Fie upon this quiet life! I want work.

Our jovial star reigned at his birth.

He was not so much brain as earwax