William Shakespeare
William Shakespeare Quotes
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''I hold you as a thing enskied, and sainted,
William Shakespeare (1564-1616), British dramatist, poet. Lucio, in Measure for Measure, act 1, sc. 4, l. 34-7. Addressing the novice Isabella at the gate of the nunnery; "enskied" means in heaven.
By your renouncement an immortal spirit,
And to be talked with in sincerity,
As with a saint.'' -
''But cruel are the times when we are traitors
William Shakespeare (1564-1616), British dramatist, poet. Macduff, in Macbeth, act 4, sc. 2, l. 18-22. "When we hold rumor/ From what we fear" means when we are led by fear to believe rumors; "Each way and move" means this way and that, making no headway.
And do not know ourselves, when we hold rumor
From what we fear, yet know not what we fear,
But float upon a wild and violent sea
Each way and move.'' -
''The purest treasure mortal times afford
William Shakespeare (1564-1616), British dramatist, poet. Mowbray, in Richard II, act 1, sc. 1, l. 177-8. On being accused of treason.
Is spotless reputation.'' -
''O good old man, how well in thee appears
William Shakespeare (1564-1616), British dramatist, poet. Orlando, in As You Like It, act 2, sc. 3, l. 56-8. Imagining a golden age when doing the job was its own reward.
The constant service of the antique world,
When service sweat for duty, not for meed!'' -
''Ha? No more moving?
William Shakespeare (1564-1616), British dramatist, poet. Othello, in Othello, act 5, sc. 2, l. 94. "Still (or silent) as the grave (or death)" was proverbial.
Still as the grave.'' -
''We marry
William Shakespeare (1564-1616), British dramatist, poet. Polixenes, in The Winter's Tale, act 4, sc. 4, l. 92-7. Instructing Perdita in the art of grafting, and, paradoxically, arguing that art is nature.
A gentler scion to the wildest stock,
And make conceive a bark of baser kind
By bud of nobler race. This is an art
Which does mend naturechange it rather; but
The art itself is nature.'' -
''For my part, if a lie may do thee grace,
William Shakespeare (1564-1616), British dramatist, poet. Prince Hal, in Henry IV, Part 1, act 5, sc. 4, l. 157-8. Falstaff claims to have killed Hotspur, and Hal does not expose the lie; "do thee grace" means bring you credit.
I'll gild it with the happiest terms I have.'' -
''After my death I wish no other herald,
William Shakespeare (1564-1616), British dramatist, poet. Queen Katherine, in Henry VIII, act 4, sc. 2, l. 69-72. Griffith has just spoken of the good qualities of Wolsey.
No other speaker of my living actions
To keep mine honor from corruption,
But such an honest chronicler as Griffith.'' -
''Did my heart love till now? Forswear it, sight,
William Shakespeare (1564-1616), British dramatist, poet. Romeo, in Romeo and Juliet, act 1, sc. 5, l. 52-3. On seeing Juliet, he dismisses his earlier passion for Rosaline.
For I ne'er saw true beauty till this night.'' -
''O wise and upright judge!
William Shakespeare (1564-1616), British dramatist, poet. Shylock, in The Merchant of Venice, act 4, sc. 1, l. 251. On Portia, who has led him to think he can have his pound of flesh.
How much more elder art thou than thy looks!''
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All The World's A Stage
All the world's a stage,
And all the men and women merely players;
They have their exits and their entrances,
And one man in his time plays many parts,
His acts being seven ages. At first, the infant,
Mewling and puking in the nurse's arms.
Then the whining schoolboy, with his satchel
And shining morning face, creeping like snail
Unwillingly to school. And then the lover,
Sighing like furnace, with a woeful ballad
Made to his mistress' eyebrow. Then a soldier,
Full of strange oaths and bearded like the pard,
Jealous in honor, sudden and quick in ...
Sonnet Li
Thus can my love excuse the slow offence
Of my dull bearer when from thee I speed:
From where thou art why should I haste me thence?
Till I return, of posting is no need.
O, what excuse will my poor beast then find,
When swift extremity can seem but slow?
Then should I spur, though mounted on the wind;
In winged speed no motion shall I know:
Then can no horse with my desire keep pace;