William Shakespeare

Explore 310 quotes by William Shakespeare

Men should be what they seem.

William Shakespeare

Othello

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Topic

Personal integrity Honesty Character

Speaker

Iago

Author

William Shakespeare

Source

Othello

Medium

Play

Genre

Tragedy (play)

Language

English

Time

1604 1600s 17th century

Era

European Renaissance

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Shakespeare, William. Othello. King's Men, 1 Nov. 1604, Palace of Whitehall, Westminster, London, England, UK, act 3, sc. 3.

Current Citation

Shakespeare, William. "Othello." The Norton Shakespeare, edited by Stephen Greenblatt, et al., 3rd ed., W. W. Norton & Company, 2015, act 3, sc. 3.

Beauty itself doth of itself persuade
The eyes of men without an orator.

William Shakespeare

The Rape of Lucrece

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Topic

Power of beauty Beauty

Author

William Shakespeare

Source

The Rape of Lucrece

Medium

Poem

Genre

Narrative poem

Language

English

Time

1594 1590s 16th century

Era

European Renaissance

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Shakespeare, William. The Rape of Lucrece. London: Richard Field, 1594, I. 29.

Current Citation

Shakespeare, William. "The Rape of Lucrece." The Norton Shakespeare, edited by Stephen Greenblatt, et al., 3rd ed., W. W. Norton & Company, 2015, I. 29.

Friendship is constant in all other things
Save in the office and affairs of love.

William Shakespeare

Much Ado About Nothing

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Topic

Tests of friendship Friendship

Speaker

Claudio

Author

William Shakespeare

Source

Much Ado About Nothing

Medium

Play

Genre

Comedy (play)

Language

English

Time

1600 1600s 16th century

Era

European Renaissance

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Shakespeare, William. Much Ado About Nothing. London: Andrew Wise and William Aspley, 1600, act 2, sc. 1.

Current Citation

Shakespeare, William. "Much Ado About Nothing." The Norton Shakespeare, edited by Stephen Greenblatt, et al., 3rd ed., W. W. Norton & Company, 2015, act 2, sc. 1.

There is some soul of goodness in things evil,
Would men observingly distill it out.

William Shakespeare

Henry V

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Topic

Good and evil Yin and yang

Speaker

King Henry V

Author

William Shakespeare

Source

Henry V

Medium

Play

Genre

History (play)

Language

English

Time

1599 1590s 16th century

Era

European Renaissance

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Shakespeare, William. Henry V. The Lord Chamberlain's Men, c. 1599, The Curtain, Shoreditch, London, England, UK, act 4, sc. 1.

Current Citation

Shakespeare, William. "Henry the Fifth." The Norton Shakespeare, edited by Stephen Greenblatt, et al., 3rd ed., W. W. Norton & Company, 2015, act 4, sc. 1.

This England never did nor never shall
Lie at the proud foot of a conqueror.

William Shakespeare

The Life and Death of King John

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Topic

England

Speaker

Bastard

Author

William Shakespeare

Source

The Life and Death of King John

Medium

Play

Genre

History (play)

Language

English

Time

1616 1610s 17th century

Era

European Renaissance

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Shakespeare, William. "The Life and Death of King John." Mr. William Shakespeare's Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies. London: Edward Blount and William and Isaac Jaggard, 1623, act 5, sc. 7.

Current Citation

Shakespeare, William. "King John." The Norton Shakespeare, edited by Stephen Greenblatt, et al., 3rd ed., W. W. Norton & Company, 2015, act 5, sc. 7.

I feel within me
A peace above all earthly dignities,
A still and quiet conscience.

William Shakespeare

Henry VIII

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Topic

Inner peace Conscience

Speaker

Cardinal Wolsey

Author

William Shakespeare

Source

Henry VIII

Medium

Play

Genre

History (play)

Language

English

Time

1613 1610s 17th century

Era

European Renaissance

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Shakespeare, William and John Fletcher. Henry VIII. King's Men, 1613, Globe Theatre, London, England, UK, act 3, sc. 2.

Current Citation

Shakespeare, William. "Henry the Eighth." The Norton Shakespeare, edited by Stephen Greenblattet al., 3rd ed., W. W. Norton & Company, 2015, act 3, sc. 2.

Men’s evil manners live in brass; their virtues
We write in water.

William Shakespeare

Henry VIII

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Topic

Character flaws Virtues

Speaker

Griffith

Author

William Shakespeare

Source

Henry VIII

Medium

Play

Genre

History (play)

Statement Type

Proverbs, aphorisms and adages

Language

English

Time

1613 1610s 17th century

Era

European Renaissance

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Shakespeare, William and John Fletcher. Henry VIII. King's Men, 1613, Globe Theatre, London, England, UK, act 4, sc. 2.

Current Citation

Shakespeare, William. "Henry the Eighth." The Norton Shakespeare, edited by Stephen Greenblattet al., 3rd ed., W. W. Norton & Company, 2015, act 4, sc. 2.

The moon's an arrant thief,
And her pale fire she snatches from the sun.

William Shakespeare

Timon of Athens

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Topic

The moon The sun

Speaker

Timon

Author

William Shakespeare

Source

Timon of Athens

Medium

Play

Genre

Tragedy (play)

Language

English

Time

1616 1610s 17th century

Era

European Renaissance

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Shakespeare, William. "Timon of Athens." Mr. William Shakespeare's Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies. London: Edward Blount and William and Isaac Jaggard, 1623, act 4, sc. 3.

Current Citation

Shakespeare, William. "Timon of Athens." The Norton Shakespeare, edited by Stephen Greenblatt, et al., 3rd ed., W. W. Norton & Company, 2015, act 4, sc. 3.

You are not worth the dust which the rude wind
Blows in your face.

William Shakespeare

King Lear

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Topic

Worthlessness

Speaker

Duke of Albany

Author

William Shakespeare

Source

King Lear

Medium

Play

Genre

Tragedy (play)

Statement Type

Insult

Language

English

Time

1606 1600s 17th century

Era

European Renaissance

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Shakespeare, William. King Lear. King's Men, 26 Dec. 1606, Palace of Whitehall, Westminster, England, UK, act 4, sc. 2.

Current Citation

Shakespeare, William. "The Tragedy of King Lear." The Norton Shakespeare, edited by Stephen Greenblatt, et al., 3rd ed., W. W. Norton & Company, 2015, act 4, sc. 2.

Though men can cover crimes with bold stern looks,
Poor women's faces are their own faults' books.

William Shakespeare

The Rape of Lucrece

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Topic

Poker face Secrets Men and women

Author

William Shakespeare

Source

The Rape of Lucrece

Medium

Poem

Genre

Narrative poem

Language

English

Time

1594 1590s 16th century

Era

European Renaissance

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Shakespeare, William. The Rape of Lucrece. London: Richard Field, 1594, I. 1252.

Current Citation

Shakespeare, William. "The Rape of Lucrece." The Norton Shakespeare, edited by Stephen Greenblatt, et al., 3rd ed., W. W. Norton & Company, 2015, I. 1252.

The world's mine oyster, which I with sword will open.

William Shakespeare

The Merry Wives of Windsor

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Topic

Opportunities

Speaker

Pistol

Author

William Shakespeare

Source

The Merry Wives of Windsor

Medium

Play

Genre

Comedy (play)

Statement Type

Metaphor, analogy and simile

Language

English

Time

1602 1600s 17th century

Era

European Renaissance

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Shakespeare, William. The Merry Wives of Windsor. London: Arthur Johnson, 1602, act 2, sc. 2.

Current Citation

Shakespeare, William. "The Merry Wives of Windsor." The Norton Shakespeare, edited by Stephen Greenblatt, et al., 3rd ed., W. W. Norton & Company, 2015, act 2, sc. 2.

We must not make a scarecrow of the law,
Setting it up to fear the birds of prey,
And let it keep one shape till custom make it
Their perch and not their terror.

William Shakespeare

Measure for Measure

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Topic

Law Justice

Speaker

Angelo

Author

William Shakespeare

Source

Measure for Measure

Medium

Play

Genre

Comedy (play)

Statement Type

Metaphor, analogy and simile

Language

English

Time

1616 1610s 17th century

Era

European Renaissance

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Shakespeare, William. "Measure for Measure." Mr. William Shakespeare's Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies. London: Edward Blount and William and Isaac Jaggard, 1623, act 2, sc. 1.

Current Citation

Shakespeare, William. "Measure for Measure." The Norton Shakespeare, edited by Stephen Greenblatt, et al., 3rd ed., W. W. Norton & Company, 2015, act 2, sc. 1.

Self-love, my liege, is not so vile a sin
As self-neglecting.

William Shakespeare

Henry V

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Topic

Self-worth Self-hatred Self-care

Speaker

Dauphin

Author

William Shakespeare

Source

Henry V

Medium

Play

Genre

History (play)

Language

English

Time

1599 1590s 16th century

Era

European Renaissance

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Shakespeare, William. Henry V. The Lord Chamberlain's Men, c. 1599, The Curtain, Shoreditch, London, England, UK, act 2, sc. 4.

Current Citation

Shakespeare, William. "Henry the Fifth." The Norton Shakespeare, edited by Stephen Greenblatt, et al., 3rd ed., W. W. Norton & Company, 2015, act 2, sc. 4.

Let me not to the marriage of true minds
Admit impediments. Love is not love
Which alters when it alteration finds
Or bends with the remover to remove.
O, no, it is an ever-fixed mark.

William Shakespeare

Shakespeare's Sonnets

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Topic

Nature of love True love Love

Author

William Shakespeare

Source

Sonnet 116 Shakespeare's Sonnets

Medium

Sonnet Poem

Language

English

Time

1609 1600s 17th century

Era

European Renaissance

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Shakespeare, William. Shake-speares Sonnets. London: Thomas Thorpe, 1609, sonnet 116, I. 1.

Current Citation

Shakespeare, William. "The Sonnets." The Norton Shakespeare, edited by Stephen Greenblatt, et al., 3rd ed., W. W. Norton & Company, 2015, sonnet 116.

I understand a fury in your words,
But not the words.

William Shakespeare

Othello

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Topic

Anger

Speaker

Desdemona

Author

William Shakespeare

Source

Othello

Medium

Play

Genre

Tragedy (play)

Language

English

Time

1604 1600s 17th century

Era

European Renaissance

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Shakespeare, William. Othello. King's Men, 1 Nov. 1604, Palace of Whitehall, Westminster, London, England, UK, act 4, sc. 2.

Current Citation

Shakespeare, William. "Othello." The Norton Shakespeare, edited by Stephen Greenblatt, et al., 3rd ed., W. W. Norton & Company, 2015, act 4, sc. 2.

Truth will come to light.

William Shakespeare

The Merchant of Venice

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Topic

Truth will come out Truth Justice

Speaker

Launcelot

Author

William Shakespeare

Source

The Merchant of Venice

Medium

Play

Genre

Comedy (play)

Language

English

Time

1598 1590s 16th century

Era

European Renaissance

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Shakespeare, William. The Merchant of Venice. c. 1598, The Theatre, London, England, UK, act 2, sc. 2.

Current Citation

Shakespeare, William. "The Merchant of Venice." The Norton Shakespeare, edited by Stephen Greenblatt, et al., 3rd ed., W. W. Norton & Company, 2015, act 2, sc. 2.

What's in a name? That which we call a rose
By any other word would smell as sweet.

William Shakespeare

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Topic

Roses Flowers Names

Speaker

Juliet Capulet

Author

William Shakespeare

Genre

Tragedy (play)

Statement Type

Question

Language

English

Time

1597 1590s 16th century

Era

European Renaissance

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Shakespeare, William. Romeo and Juliet. London: John Danter, 1597, act 2, sc. 2

Current Citation

Shakespeare, William. "Romeo and Juliet." The Norton Shakespeare, edited by Stephen Greenblatt, et al., 3rd ed., W. W. Norton & Company, 2015, act 2, sc. 2.

Suspicion always haunts the guilty mind;
The thief doth fear each bush an officer.

William Shakespeare

Henry VI, Part 3

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Topic

Guilty conscience Paranoia Conscience

Speaker

Richard Plantagenet

Author

William Shakespeare

Source

Henry VI, Part 3

Medium

Play

Genre

History (play)

Language

English

Time

1595 1590s 16th century

Era

European Renaissance

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Shakespeare, William. Henry the Sixth, Part 3. London: Thomas Millington, 1595, act 5, sc. 6.

Current Citation

Shakespeare, William. "The Third Part of Henry the Sixth." The Norton Shakespeare, edited by Stephen Greenblatt, et al., 3rd ed., W. W. Norton & Company, 2015, act 5, sc. 6.

Men must endure
Their going hence even as their coming hither.
Ripeness is all.

William Shakespeare

King Lear

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Topic

Perseverance Death Mortality Timing The human condition

Speaker

Edgar

Author

William Shakespeare

Source

King Lear

Medium

Play

Genre

Tragedy (play)

Language

English

Time

1606 1600s 17th century

Era

European Renaissance

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Shakespeare, William. King Lear. King's Men, 26 Dec. 1606, Palace of Whitehall, Westminster, England, UK, act 5, sc. 2.

Current Citation

Shakespeare, William. "The Tragedy of King Lear." The Norton Shakespeare, edited by Stephen Greenblatt, et al., 3rd ed., W. W. Norton & Company, 2015, act 5, sc. 2.

Short time seems long in sorrow's sharp sustaining.

William Shakespeare

The Rape of Lucrece

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Topic

Suffering Sadness Perception of time Time

Author

William Shakespeare

Source

The Rape of Lucrece

Medium

Poem

Genre

Narrative poem

Language

English

Time

1594 1590s 16th century

Era

European Renaissance

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Shakespeare, William. The Rape of Lucrece. London: Richard Field, 1594, I. 1573.

Current Citation

Shakespeare, William. "The Rape of Lucrece." The Norton Shakespeare, edited by Stephen Greenblatt, et al., 3rd ed., W. W. Norton & Company, 2015, I. 1573.