William Shakespeare Quotes

1564–1616 England

William Shakespeare (26 April 1564 (baptised) – 23 April 1616) was an English poet, playwright, and actor, widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's pre-eminent dramatist.

England
Actors
Playwrights
Poets

Also known as: Shakespeare, Shakespeare, William, Shakespearean, Shakspeare

Random William Shakespeare quote

2,353 quotes

But then I sigh; and, with a piece of Scripture,
Tell them that God bids us do good for evil.

Richard III (1591)

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

King Lear (1608)

You can behold such sights,
And keep the natural ruby of your cheeks,
When mine is blanch'd with fear.

Macbeth (1605)

The great man down, you mark his favorite flies,
The poor advanced makes friends of enemies.

But thou art fair, and at thy birth, dear boy,
Nature and Fortune join'd to make thee great.

King John (1598)

As testy sick men when their deaths be near,
No news but health from their physicians know.

He fires the proud tops of the eastern pines
And darts his light through every guilty hole.

Richard II (1595)

To be imprisoned in the viewless winds
And blown with restless violence around about
The pendent world.

Measure for Measure (1603)

When you do dance, I wish you
A wave o' th' sea, that you might ever do
Nothing but that.

Wisdom and fortune combating together,
If that the former dare but what it can,
No chance may shake it.

You are the cruell'st she alive,
If you will lead these graces to the grave
And leave the world no copy.

'Tis not the many oaths that makes the truth,
But the plain single vow that is vow'd true.

Who, with a body filled and vacant mind,
Gets him to rest, cramm'd with distressful bread.

Henry V (1599)

But I pray you, let none of your people stir me: I have an exposition of sleep come upon me.

He that is more than a youth, is not for me, and he that is less than man, I am not for him.

Unkindness may do much;
And his unkindness may defeat my life,
But never taint my love.

Othello (1603)

O, how much more doth beauty beauteous seem
By that sweet ornament which truth doth give!

Sonnets (1609)

Now God be praised, that to believing souls,
Gives light in darkness, comfort in despair!

O what a world of vile ill-favour'd faults
Looks handsome in three hundred pounds a year!

A peace is of the nature of a conquest;
For then both parties nobly are subdued,
And neither party loser.

Attribution

Quotes and notes from Wikiquote: William Shakespeare (page history), available under CC BY-SA 4.0.