William Shakespeare Quotes

The hand of little employment hath the daintier sense.

Our enemies are our outward consciences.

In time we hate that which we often fear.

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

Thou art an elm, my husband, I a vine.

Opinion, a sovereign mistress of effects.

Come what sorrow can, It cannot countervail the exchange of joy, That one short minute gives me in her sight

We will draw the curtain and show you the picture.

Life is as tedious as twice-told tale, vexing the dull ear of a drowsy man.

I cannot be a man with wishing, therefore I will die a woman with grieving.

He wears his faith but as the fashion of his hat.

When a gentlemen is disposed to swear, it is not for any standers-by to curtail his oaths.

By my soul I swear, there is no power in the tongue of man to alter me.

And, if you love me, as I think you do, let's kiss and part, for we have much to do

Well, I'll repent, and that suddenly, while I am in some liking; I shall be out of heart shortly, and then I shall have no strength to repent.

Within the hollow crown That rounds the mortal temples of a king Keeps Death his court.

O, that this too too solid flesh would melt Thaw and resolve itself into a dew! Or that the Everlasting had not fix'd His canon 'gainst self-slaughter! O God! God! How weary, stale, flat and unprofitable, (135) Seem to me all the uses of this world! Fie on't! ah fie! 'tis an unweeded garden, That grows to seed; things rank and gross in nature Possess it merely. That it should come to this! But two months dead: nay, not so much, not two: (140) So excellent a king; that was, to this.

And nothing is, but what is not.

Have I thought long to see this morning’s face, And doth it give me such a sight as this?

Keep up your bright swords, for the dew will rust them.

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

Seems," madam? Nay, it is; I know not "seems." 'Tis not alone my inky cloak, good mother, Nor customary suits of solemn black, Nor windy suspiration of forced breath, No, nor the fruitful river in the eye, Nor the dejected 'havior of the visage, Together with all forms, moods, shapes of grief, That can denote me truly: these indeed seem, For they are actions that a man might play: But I have that within which passeth show; These but the trappings and the suits of woe.

O mischief, thou art swift to enter in the thoughts of desperate men!

Violent fires soon burn out themselves, small showers last long, but sudden storms are short; he tires betimes that spurs too fast.

If there be devils, would I were a devil, To live and burn in everlasting fire, So I might have your company in hell, But to torment you with my bitter tongue!

My stars shine darkly over me

I am not of that feather, to shake off my friend when he must need me

Oh, I have passed a miserable night, so full of ugly sights, of ghastly dreams!

Help, master, help! here's a fish hangs in the net, like a poor man's right in the law; 'twill hardly come out.

Love is blind, it stops lovers seeing the silly things they do.

O serpent heart hid with a flowering face! Did ever a dragon keep so fair a cave? Beautiful tyrant, feind angelical, dove feather raven, wolvish-ravening lamb! Despised substance of devinest show, just opposite to what thou justly seemest - A dammed saint, an honourable villain!

Women's weapons, water-drops.

DON PEDRO Come, lady, come; you have lost the heart of Signior Benedick. BEATRICE Indeed, my lord, he lent it me awhile; and I gave him use for it, a double heart for his single one: marry, once before he won it of me with false dice, therefore your grace may well say I have lost it. DON PEDRO You have put him down, lady, you have put him down. BEATRICE So I would not he should do me, my lord, lest I should prove the mother of fools.

Hell is empty and all the devils are here.

Methought I was enamour'd of an ass.

All pity choked with custom of fell deeds.

To hold, as 't were, the mirror up to nature.

There is a tide in the affairs of men, Which taken at the flood, leads on to fortune. Omitted, all the voyage of their life is bound in shallows and in miseries. On such a full sea are we now afloat. And we must take the current when it serves, or lose our ventures.

Present fears are less than horrible imaginings.

My wits begin to turn.

That god forbid, that made me first your slave, I should in thought control your times of pleasure, Or at your hand th' account of hours to crave, Being your vassal bound to stay your leisure.

I have no way and therefore want no eyes I stumbled when I saw. Full oft 'tis seen our means secure us, and our mere defects prove our commodities.

Tell me, daughter Juliet, How stands your dispositions to be married" It is an honor that I dream not of

Alas, sir, how fell you besides your five wits?" Malvolio: "Fool, there was never a man so notoriously abused. I am as well in my wits, fool, as thou art." Feste: "But as well? Then you are mad indeed, if you be no better in you wits than a fool.

Good things should be praised.

Passion lends them power, time means to meet, tempering extremities with extremes sweet.

The most peaceable way for you, if you do take a thief, is, to let him show himself what he is and steal out of your company.

I am a Jew. Hath not a Jew eyes? Hath not a Jew hands, organs, dimensions, senses, affections, passions?