English Playwright Quotes

William Shakespeare

Graham Greene

D. H. Lawrence

John Galsworthy

John Dryden

Robert Browning

Ben Jonson

Thou art the cause, and most accursed effect.

William Shakespeare

People think I write fantasy, but I don't. Some things may be exaggerated or distorted, but they're realistic figures.... There's nothing incredible about it.

To thee, and gentle Rigdom Funnidos,
Our gratulations flow in streams unbounded.

We are not masters of our own affections; our inclinations dailyalter: now we love pleasure, and anon we shall dote on business. Human frailty will have it so, and who can help it?

George Etherege

While I was happy enough to pray to any god, knowing that they were simply different faces created by men, of one indivisible truth.

Gillian Rubinstein

I may boldly speak In right, though proud oppression will not hear me!

Ask any woman in an arranged marriage. Love is the least stressful way out.

A woman friend! He that believes that weakness, Steers in a stormy night without a compass.

Hanging head downwards between cliffs of bone, was the baby, its arms all but clasped about its neck, its face aslant upon its arms, hair painted upon its skull, closed, secret eyes, a diver poised in albumen, ancient and epic, shot with delicate spasms, as old as a Pharaoh in its tomb.

The ignorant frighten children with ghosts, and the better educated assure them there is no such thing. Our understanding may believe the latter, but our instincts believe the former; so that, out of this education, we retain the terror, and just believe enough to make it very troublesome whenever we are placed in circumstances that awaken it.

Catherine Crowe

A good physician comes to thee in the shape of an angel, and therefore let him boldly take thee by the hand, for he has been in God's garden, gathering herbs and sovereign roots to cure thee. The good physician deals in simples and will be simply honest with thee in they preservation.

Fame is something different from popularity. It is less demanding for a start and has more to do with talent than virtue. But not even much to do with talent.

It is by muteness that a dog becomes for one so utterly beyond value; with him one is at peace, where words play no torturing tricks.Those are the moments that I think are precious to a dog-when, with his adoring soul coming through his eyes, he feels that you are really thinking of him.

John Galsworthy

And for that they were rich,/And robbed the poor; and for that they were strong,/And scourged the weak; and for that they made laws/Which turned the sweat of labor's brow to blood! - /For these their sins the nations cast them out.

Before
We end our pilgrimage, 'tis fit that we
Should leave corruption, and foul sin, behind us,
But with wash'd feet and hands, the heathens dar' not
Enter their profane temples; and for me
To hope my passage to eternity
Can be made easy, till I have shook off
The burthen of my sins in free confession,
Aided with sorrow, and repentance for them,
Is against reason.

Philip Massinger

Any fool can play tragedy, but comedy, sir, is a damned serious business.

Wowers never speede well, that have a false harte.

This I did to prevent expences, for … a penny sav'd, is a penny got.

Edward Ravenscroft

Into a slumber then I fell,
When fond imagination
Seemed to see, but could not tell
Her feature or her fashion.

In the world of dreams, I have chosen my part. To sleep for a season and hear no word Of true love's truth or of light love's art, Only the song of a secret bird.

Algernon Charles Swinburne

Shakespeare was the Homer, or father of our dramatic poets;Jonson was theVirgil, the pattern of elaborate writing; I admire him, but I love Shakespeare.

You see I learnt at an early age what it was to be angry - angry and helpless. And I can never forget it. I knew more about - love... betrayal... and death, when I was ten years old than you will probably ever know in your life.

Fair is the kingcup that in meadow blows, Fair is the daisy that beside her grows.

As I am never better than when I am mad; then methinks I am a brave fellow; then I do wonders: but reason abuseth me, and there's the torment, there's the hell.

in the middle of the night
people tell their dreams
and it is important, even
though there is never much
of an audience.

Michelene Wandor