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"Greatness knows itself."
William Shakespeare (1564-1616), British dramatist, poet. Hotspur, in Henry IV, Part 1, act 4, sc. 3, l. 74.
Implying that great men take power for granted. |
"The flame o' th' taper
Bows toward her, and would under-peep her lids,
To see th' enclosed lights, now canopied
Under these windows, white and azure laced
With blue of heaven's own tinct."
William Shakespeare (1564-1616), British dramatist, poet. Jachimo, in Cymbeline, act 2, sc. 2, l. 19-23.
Looking at Imogen asleep. |
"Kill thy physician, and the fee bestow
Upon the foul disease."
William Shakespeare (1564-1616), British dramatist, poet. Kent, in King Lear, act 1, sc. 1, l. 163-4.
Kent himself is the "physician" trying to cure Lear of madness. |
"In peace there's nothing so becomes a man
As modest stillness and humility."
William Shakespeare (1564-1616), British dramatist, poet. King Henry, in Henry V, act 3, sc. 1, l. 3-4. |
"Pride must have a fall."
William Shakespeare (1564-1616), British dramatist, poet. King Richard, in Richard II, act 5, sc. 5, l. 88.
Proverbial. |
"Mend when thou canst, be better at thy leisure."
William Shakespeare (1564-1616), British dramatist, poet. Lear, in King Lear, act 2, sc. 4, l. 229.
Speaking to his daughter Goneril; "mend" means improve. |
"Who comes so fast in silence of the night?"
William Shakespeare (1564-1616), British dramatist, poet. Lorenzo, in The Merchant of Venice, act 5, sc. 1, l. 25.
Hearing the sound of a messenger. |
"I have lived long enough: my way of life
Is fallen into the sere, the yellow leaf;
And that which should accompany old age,
As honor, love, obedience, troops of friends,
I must not look to have."
William Shakespeare (1564-1616), British dramatist, poet. Macbeth, in Macbeth, act 5, sc. 3, l. 22-6.
"Sere" means dry and withered; "As honor" means such as honor. |
"Advantage is a better soldier than rashness."
William Shakespeare (1564-1616), British dramatist, poet. Montjoy, in Henry V, act 3, sc. 6, l. 120.
Better to wait for a favorable opportunity than act rashly in war; so the French king makes the best of losing Harfleur to the English. |
"How should I your true-love know
From another one?
By his cockle hat and staff,
And his sandal shoon."
William Shakespeare (1564-1616), British dramatist, poet. Ophelia, in Hamlet, act 4, sc. 5, l. 23-6.
Singing old songs in her madness after her father's death; "cockle hat" means hat bearing a cockle-shell, the sign, with the sandals, of a pilgrim; "shoon" means shoes. |
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William Shakespeare
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