William Shakespeare Quotes

What have we here? a man or a fish? dead or alive? A fish: he smells like a fish; a very ancient and fishlike smell; a kind of not of the newest poor-John. A strange fish!

I shall show the cinders of my spirits Through the ashes of my chance.

Thrust your head into the public street, to gaze on Christian fools with varnish'd faces.

His worst fault is, he's given to prayer; he is something peevish that way.

I always thought it was both impious and unnatural that such immanity and bloody strife should reign among professors of one faith.

Cursed be the hand that made these fatal holes.

Better conquest never canst thou make than arm thy constant and thy nobler parts against giddy, loose suggestions.

To kill, I grant, is sin's extremest gust; But, in defence, by mercy, 'tis most just.

Love yourself; and in that love not unconsidered leave your honor.

Men have marble, women waxen, minds.

Ingrateful man with liquorish draughts, and morsels unctuous, greases his pure mind that from it all consideration slips.

You know that love Will creep in service where it cannot go.

O villains, vipers, dogs, easily won to fawn on any man!

Silence is only commendable In a neat's tongue dried, and a maid not vendible.

Be checked for silence, But never taxed for speech.

Sin will pluck on sin.

Thou art a slave, whom fortune's tender arm With favour never clasp'd; but bred a dog.

Slander, whose whisper over the world's diameter, as level as the cannon to its blank, transports its poisoned shot.

Winding up days with toil and nights with sleep.

Wisely weigh our sorrow with our comfort.

Nature does require her times of preservation.

To bed, to bed; sleep kill those pretty eyes, And give as soft attachment to thy senses, As infants empty of all thought.

The sun with one eye vieweth all the world.

When the sun shines let foolish gnats make sport, But creep in crannies when he hides his beams.

This act is an ancient tale new told; And, in the last repeating, troublesome, Being urged at a time unseasonable.

Fie, fie, how frantically I square my talk!

Things are often spoke and seldom meant.

I have heard of some kind of men that put quarrels purposely on others, to taste their valor.

How many a holy and obsequious tear hath dear religious love stolen from mine eye, as interest of the dead!

Nature's tears are reason's merriment.

Tears harden lust, though marble wear with raining.

The liquid drops of tears that you have shed Shall come again, transform'd to orient pearl, Advantaging their loan with interest Of ten times double gain of happiness.

Lords, knights and gentlemen, what I should say My tears gainsay; for every word I speak, Ye see I drink the water of my eye.

The southern wind Doth play the trumpet to his purposes; And, by his hollow whistling in the leaves, Foretells a tempest and a blustering day.

Thanks to men Of noble minds, is honorable meed.

A woman's thought runs before her actions.

Faster than spring-time showers comes thought on thought.

I and my bosom must debate awhile, and then I would no other company.

But now behold, In the quick forge and working-house of thought, How London doth pour out her citizens!

Are there no stones in heaven But what serves for thunder?

An arrant traitor as any is in the universal world, or in France, or in England.

Travelers must be content.

Travelers never did lie, though fools at home condemn them.

My father names me Autolycus, who being, as I am, littered under Mercury, was likewise a snapper-up of unconsidered trifles.

No evil lost is wailed when it is gone.

But yet, I say, if imputation and strong circumstances, which lead directly to the door of truth, will give you satisfaction, you may have it.

Truth needs no color; beauty, no pencil.

But say, my lord, it were not regist'red, Methinks the truth should live from age to age, As 'twere retailed to all posterity, Even to the general all-ending day.

Hardness ever of hardness is mother.

The weary sun hath made a golden set And by the bright tract of his fiery car Gives token of a goodly day to-morrow.