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"'Tis an ill cook that cannot lick his own fingers."
William Shakespeare (1564-1616), British dramatist, poet. 2nd Servingman, in Romeo and Juliet, act 4, sc. 2, l. 6-7. |
"They say this town is full of cozenage:
As nimble jugglers that deceive the eye,
Dark-working sorcerers that change the mind,
Soul-killing witches that deform the body,
Disguised cheaters, prating mountebanks,
And many such-like liberties of sin."
William Shakespeare (1564-1616), British dramatist, poet. Antipholus of Syracuse, in The Comedy of Errors, act 1, sc. 2, l. 97-102.
The reputation of Ephesus, where Antipholus has just arrived; mountebanks were quack doctors or charlatans. |
"I wonder men dare trust themselves with men."
William Shakespeare (1564-1616), British dramatist, poet. Apemantus, in Timon of Athens, act 1, sc. 2, l. 43.
Seeing that Timon's guests are destroying him. |
"Manhood is melted into courtesies, valour into compliment, and men are only turned into tongue, and trim ones, too."
William Shakespeare (1564-1616), British dramatist, poet. Beatrice, in Much Ado About Nothing, act 4, sc. 1. |
"As young as I am, I have observed these three swashers. I am
boy to them all three, but all they three, though they would
serve me, could not be man to me."
William Shakespeare (1564-1616), British dramatist, poet. Boy, in Henry V, act 3, sc. 2, l. 28-31.
Seeing through the swashbuckling Nym, Bardolph and Pistol, who, for all their bravado, are cowards; "boy" means servant. |
"Bravest at the last,
She levelled at our purposes, and being royal
Took her own way."
William Shakespeare (1564-1616), British dramatist, poet. Caesar, in Antony and Cleopatra, act 5, sc. 2, l. 335-7.
Finding Cleopatra dead by her own hand. |
"O insupportable and touching loss!"
William Shakespeare (1564-1616), British dramatist, poet. Cassius, in Julius Caesar, act 4, sc. 3, l. 151.
On the news of the death of Portia, Brutus's wife. |
"Give not this rotten orange to your friend;
She's but the sign and semblance of her honor."
William Shakespeare (1564-1616), British dramatist, poet. Claudio, in Much Ado About Nothing, act 4, sc. 1, l. 32-3.
Rejecting Hero as unchaste at the wedding ceremony; "sign and semblance" means outward appearance. |
"I see that the fashion wears out more apparel than the man."
William Shakespeare (1564-1616), British dramatist, poet. Conrade, in Much Ado About Nothing, act 3, sc. 3, l. 139-40.
Changes in fashion often cause people to discard clothing before it is worn out. |
"I am a wise fellow, and, which is more, an officer; and, which is more, a householder; and, which is more, as pretty a piece of flesh as any is in Messina; and one that knows the law, go to; and a rich fellow enough, go to; and a fellow that hath had losses; and one that hath two gowns and everything handsome about him."
William Shakespeare (1564-1616), British dramatist, poet. Dogberry, in Much Ado About Nothing, act 4, sc. 2, l. 80-6.
Priding himself on his modest wealth and status. |
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William Shakespeare
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