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

Black is the badge of hell,
The hue of dungeons and the suit of night.

Thieves for their robbery have authority
When judges steal themselves.

Measure for Measure (1603)

Joy, being altogether wanting,
It doth remember me the more of sorrow.

Richard II (1595)

The one so like the other
As could not be distinguish'd but by names.

I prythee, take the cork out of thy mouth that I may drink thy tidings.

Her voice was ever soft,
Gentle and low, an excellent thing in woman.

King Lear (1608)

Neither a borrower nor a lender be;
for loan doth oft lose both itself and friend,
and borrowing dulls the edge of husbandry.

I shall the effect of this good lesson keep,
As watchman to my heart.

For Brutus is an honourable man;
So are they all, all honourable men.

Julius Cæsar (1599)

For honour travels in a strait so narrow,
Where one but goes abreast.

Troilus and Cressida (1602)

Happiest of all, is, that her gentle spirit
Commits itself to yours to be directed,
As from her lord, her governor, her king.

You speak like a green girl,
Unsifted in such perilous circumstance.

News fitting to the night,
Black, fearful, comfortless and horrible.

King John (1598)

O Lord, that lends me life, Lend me a heart replete with thankfulness!

Yet 'tis greater skill
In a true hate, to pray they have their will.

Cymbeline (1611)

Know, my name is lost;
By treason's tooth bare-gnawn and canker-bit.

King Lear (1608)

As when the golden sun salutes the morn,
And, having gilt the ocean with his beams,
Gallops the zodiac in his glistening coach.

Here will be an old abusing of God's patience and the king's English.

The heavenly-harness'd team
Begins his golden progress in the east.

If he had been as you and you as he,
You would have slipt like him.

Measure for Measure (1603)

Attribution

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