William Shakespeare

Explore 310 quotes by William Shakespeare

Ask me no reason why I love you, for though
Love use Reason for his precisian, he admits him not for his counselor.

William Shakespeare

The Merry Wives of Windsor

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Topic

Love and reason Reason Love

Speaker

Mistress Page

Author

William Shakespeare

Source

The Merry Wives of Windsor

Medium

Play

Genre

Comedy (play)

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. 1.

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. 1.

Heat not a furnace for your foe so hot
That it do singe yourself.

William Shakespeare

Henry VIII

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Topic

Enemies Revenge

Speaker

Norfolk

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 1, sc. 1.

Current Citation

Shakespeare, William. "Henry the Eighth." The Norton Shakespeare, edited by Stephen Greenblattet al., 3rd ed., W. W. Norton & Company, 2015, act 1, sc. 1.

I am not in the giving vein today.

William Shakespeare

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Topic

Generosity Giving Bad mood

Speaker

King Richard III

Author

William Shakespeare

Genre

History (play)

Language

English

Time

1597 1590s 16th century

Era

European Renaissance

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Shakespeare, William. Richard III. London: Andrew Wise, 1597, act 4, sc. 2.

Current Citation

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

Age cannot wither her, nor custom stale
Her infinite variety.

William Shakespeare

Antony and Cleopatra

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Topic

Aging Women

Speaker

Domitius Enobarbus

Author

William Shakespeare

Source

Antony and Cleopatra

Medium

Play

Genre

Tragedy (play)

Language

English

Time

1607 1600s 17th century

Era

European Renaissance

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Shakespeare, William. Antony and Cleopatra. King's Men, c. 1607, London, England, UK, act 2, sc. 2.

Current Citation

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

Is it sin to rush into the secret house of death
Ere death dare come to us?

William Shakespeare

Antony and Cleopatra

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Topic

Suicide Death

Speaker

Cleopatra

Author

William Shakespeare

Source

Antony and Cleopatra

Medium

Play

Genre

Tragedy (play)

Statement Type

Question

Language

English

Time

1607 1600s 17th century

Era

European Renaissance

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Shakespeare, William. Antony and Cleopatra. King's Men, c. 1607, London, England, UK, act 4, sc. 15.

Current Citation

Shakespeare, William. "Antony and Cleopatra." The Norton Shakespeare, edited by Stephen Greenblatt, et al.,, 3rd ed., W. W. Norton & Company, 2015, act 4, sc. 15.

Care keeps his watch in every old man's eye,
And, where care lodges, sleep will never lie;
But where unbruisèd youth with unstuffed brain
Doth couch his limbs, there golden sleep doth reign.

William Shakespeare

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Topic

Trouble sleeping Worry Sleep Youth vs. old age

Speaker

Friar Laurence

Author

William Shakespeare

Genre

Tragedy (play)

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. 3.

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. 3.

For so work the honeybees,
Creatures that by a rule in nature teach
The act of order to a peopled kingdom.
They have a king and officers of sorts,
Where some like magistrates correct at home,
Others like merchants venture trade abroad,
Others like soldiers armèd in their stings
Make boot upon the summer’s velvet buds,
Which pillage they with merry march bring home
To the tent royal of their emperor,
Who, busied in his majesty, surveys
The singing masons building roofs of gold.

William Shakespeare

Henry V

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Topic

Bees

Speaker

Bishop of Canterbury

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 1, sc. 2.

Current Citation

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

I am as poor as Job, my lord, but not so patient.

William Shakespeare

Henry IV, Part 2

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Topic

Impatience

Speaker

Falstaff

Author

William Shakespeare

Source

Henry IV, Part 2

Medium

Play

Genre

History (play)

Statement Type

Biblical reference

Language

English

Time

1597 1590s 16th century

Era

European Renaissance

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Shakespeare, William. Henry IV, Part 2. The Lord Chamberlain's Men, c. 1597, The Theatre, London, England, UK, act 1, sc. 2.

Current Citation

Shakespeare, William. "The Second Part of Henry the Fourth." The Norton Shakespeare, edited by Stephen Greenblatt, et al., 3rd ed., W. W. Norton & Company, 2015, act 1, sc. 2.

Love's not Time's fool, though rosy lips and cheeks
Within his bending sickle's compass come;
Love alters not with his brief hours and weeks,
But bears it out even to the edge of doom.

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. 9.

Current Citation

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

Against self-slaughter
There is a prohibition so divine
That cravens my weak hand.

William Shakespeare

Cymbeline

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Topic

Suicide Taboos

Speaker

Imogen

Author

William Shakespeare

Source

Cymbeline

Medium

Play

Genre

Tragedy (play)

Language

English

Time

1611 1610s 17th century

Era

European Renaissance

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Shakespeare, William. Cymbeline. 1611, Blackfriars Theatre, London, England, UK, act 3, sc. 4.

Current Citation

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

They breathe truth that breathe their words in pain.

William Shakespeare

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Topic

Telling the truth

Speaker

John of Gaunt

Author

William Shakespeare

Genre

History (play)

Language

English

Time

1595 1590s 16th century

Era

European Renaissance

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Shakespeare, William. Richard II. 9 Dec. 1595, The house of Edward Hoby, Westminster, London, England, UK, act 2, sc. 1.

Current Citation

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

Let me have war, say I. It exceeds peace as far as day does night. It's sprightly waking, audible, and full of vent. Peace is a very apoplexy, lethargy; mulled, deaf, sleepy, insensible.

William Shakespeare

Coriolanus

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Topic

War and peace War Peace

Speaker

First Serving Man

Author

William Shakespeare

Source

Coriolanus

Medium

Play

Genre

Tragedy (play)

Statement Type

Metaphor, analogy and simile

Language

English

Time

1616 1610s 17th century

Era

European Renaissance

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Shakespeare, William. "Coriolanus." Mr. William Shakespeare's Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies. London: Edward Blount and William and Isaac Jaggard, 1623, act 4, sc. 5.

Current Citation

Shakespeare, William. "Coriolanus." The Norton Shakespeare, edited by Stephen Greenblatt, et al., 3rd ed., W. W. Norton & Company, 2015, act 4, sc. 5.

My crown is in my heart, not on my head;
Not decked with diamonds and Indian stones,
Nor to be seen. My crown is called content;
A crown it is that seldom kings enjoy.

William Shakespeare

Henry VI, Part 3

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Topic

Happiness

Speaker

King Henry VI

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 3, sc. 1.

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 3, sc. 1.

All that glisters is not gold—
Often have you heard that told.

William Shakespeare

The Merchant of Venice

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Topic

Looks are deceiving Appearance vs. reality Gold

Speaker

Morocco

Author

William Shakespeare

Source

The Merchant of Venice

Medium

Play

Genre

Comedy (play)

Statement Type

Proverbs, aphorisms and adages Metaphor, analogy and simile

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. 7.

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. 7.

Misery acquaints a man with strange bedfellows.

William Shakespeare

The Tempest

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Topic

Suffering Unhappiness

Speaker

Trinculo

Author

William Shakespeare

Source

The Tempest

Medium

Play

Genre

Comedy (play)

Language

English

Time

1616 1610s 17th century

Era

European Renaissance

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

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

Current Citation

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

Then let thy love be younger than thyself,
Or thy affection cannot hold the bent.
For women are as roses, whose fair flower,
Being once displayed, doth fall that very hour.

William Shakespeare

Twelfth Night, Or What You Will

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Topic

Beauty fades

Speaker

Duke Orsino

Author

William Shakespeare

Source

Twelfth Night, Or What You Will

Medium

Play

Genre

Comedy (play) Romantic comedy (play)

Language

English

Time

1602 1600s 17th century

Era

European Renaissance

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Shakespeare, William. Twelfth Night, Or What You Will. 1602, Middle Temple Hall, London, England, UK, act 2, sc. 4.

Current Citation

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

He is the half part of a blessèd man,
Left to be finishèd by such as she,
And she a fair divided excellence,
Whose fullness of perfection lies in him.

William Shakespeare

The Life and Death of King John

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Topic

Relationships Men and women

Speaker

First Citizen

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 2, sc. 1.

Current Citation

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

Love sought is good, but given unsought is better.

William Shakespeare

Twelfth Night, Or What You Will

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Topic

Love

Speaker

Olivia

Author

William Shakespeare

Source

Twelfth Night, Or What You Will

Medium

Play

Genre

Comedy (play) Romantic comedy (play)

Language

English

Time

1602 1600s 17th century

Era

European Renaissance

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Shakespeare, William. Twelfth Night, Or What You Will. 1602, Middle Temple Hall, London, England, UK, act 3, sc. 1.

Current Citation

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

Though I am not naturally honest, I am so sometimes by chance.

William Shakespeare

The Winter's Tale

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Topic

Honesty Fortuitous occurrences

Speaker

Autolycus

Author

William Shakespeare

Source

The Winter's Tale

Medium

Play

Genre

Comedy (play)

Language

English

Time

1611 1610s 17th century

Era

European Renaissance

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Shakespeare, William. The Winter's Tale. The King's Men, 1611, Globe Theatre, London, England, UK, act 4, sc. 4.

Current Citation

Shakespeare, William. "The Winter's Tale." The Norton Shakespeare, edited by Stephen Greenblatt, et al., 3rd ed., W. W. Norton & Company, 2015, act 4, sc. 4.

If there be no great love in the beginning, yet heaven may decrease it upon better acquaintance, when we are married and have more occasion to know one another...upon familiarity will grow more content.

William Shakespeare

The Merry Wives of Windsor

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Topic

Familiarity breeds contempt Fading love Relationship challenges Relationships Marriage

Speaker

Slender

Author

William Shakespeare

Source

The Merry Wives of Windsor

Medium

Play

Genre

Comedy (play)

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 1, sc. 1.

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 1, sc. 1.