William Shakespeare Quotes

3,206 Sourced Quotes

A man loves the meat in his youth that he cannot endure in his age.

William Shakespeare
Neither a borrower, nor a lender be;
For loan oft loses both itself and friend,
And borrowing dulls the edge of husbandry.
This above all: to thine own self be true,
And it must follow, as the night the day,
Thou canst not then be false to any man.

William Shakespeare
Virtue is bold, and goodness never fearful.

William Shakespeare
For aught that I could ever read,
Could ever hear by tale or history,
The course of true love never did run smooth.

William Shakespeare
Friendship is constant in all other things Save in the office and affairs of love: Therefore all hearts in love use their own tongues; Let every eye negotiate for itself And trust no agent.

William Shakespeare
Some rise by sin, and some by virtue fall.

William Shakespeare
But be not afraid of greatness: some men are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon them.

William Shakespeare
Our doubts are traitors
And make us lose the good we oft might win
By fearing to attempt.

William Shakespeare
There was never yet fair woman but she made mouths in a glass.

William Shakespeare
Be somewhat scanter of your maiden presence.

William Shakespeare
Though justice be thy plea, consider this,
That in the course of justice none of us
Should see salvation: we do pray for mercy,
And that same prayer doth teach us all to render
The deeds of mercy.

William Shakespeare
Neither my place, nor aught I heard of business,
Hath raised me from my bed; nor doth the general care
Take hold on me; for my particular grief
Is of so floodgate and o'erbearing nature
That it engluts and swallows other sorrows,
And it is still itself.

William Shakespeare
Now get you to my lady's chamber, and tell her, let her paint an inch thick, to this favour she must come; make her laugh at that.

William Shakespeare
Things rank and gross in nature
Possess it merely. That it should come to this!

William Shakespeare
So may I, blind fortune leading me,
Miss that which one unworthier may attain,
And die with grieving.

William Shakespeare
I would to God my name were not so terrible to the enemy as it is: I were better to be eaten to death with rust than to be scoured to nothing with perpetual motion.

William Shakespeare
O Ceremony, show me but thy worth? What is thy soul of adoration? Art thou aught else but place, degree, and form, Creating awe and fear in other men?

William Shakespeare
Have you not heard it said full oft,
A woman's nay doth stand for naught?

William Shakespeare
Upon such sacrifices, my Cordelia,
The gods themselves throw incense.

William Shakespeare
Here comes a man of comfort, whose advice Hath often stilled my brawling discontent.

William Shakespeare
For honor travels in a strait so narrow
Where one but goes abreast.

William Shakespeare
What early tongue so sweet saluteth me? Young son, it argues a distemper'd head So soon to bid good morrow to thy bed: Care keeps his watch in every old man's eye, And where care lodges, sleep will never lie; But where unbruised youth with unstuff'd brain Doth couch his limbs, there golden sleep doth reign:

William Shakespeare
I stalk about her door like a strange soul upon the Stygian banks staying for wattage.

William Shakespeare
There is a devilish mercy in the judge, if you'll implore it, that will free your life, but fetter you till death.

William Shakespeare
The Goodwins, I think they call the place; a very dangerous flat, and fatal, where the carcasses of many a tall ship lie buried.

William Shakespeare