Quote collection
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"If there were a sympathy in choice, War, death, or sickness, did lay siege to it, Making it momentary as a sound, Swift as a shadow, short as any dream, Brief as the lightning in the collied night That, in a spleen, unfolds both heaven and earth, And ere a man hath power to say 'Behold!' The jaws of darkness do devour it up; So quick bright things come to confusion."
"The language I have learnt these forty years, My native English, now I must forgo; And now my tongue's use is to me no more Than an unstringed viol or a harp, Or like a cunning instrument cased up Or, being open, put into his hands That knows no touch to tune the harmony."
"Into what dangers would you lead me, Cassius, That you would have me seek into myself For that which is not in me?"
"I was born free as Caesar; so were you"
"for Mercutio's soul Is but a little way above our heads, Staying for thine to keep him company: Either thou, or I, or both, must go with him."
"How many things by season seasoned are To their right praise and true perfection!"
"Thyself shall see the act; For, as thou urgest justice, be assured Thou shalt have justice, more than thou desir'st."
"Oh, that way madness lies; let me shun that."
"He that plays the king shall be welcome- his Majesty shall have tribute of me; the adventurous knight shall use his foil and target; the lover shall not sigh gratis; the humorous man shall end his part in peace; the clown shall make those laugh whose lungs are tickle o' th' sere; and the lady shall say her mind freely, or the blank verse shall halt fort."
"Hamlet: Lady, shall I lie in your lap? Ophelia: No, my lord. Hamlet: DId you think I meant country matters? Ophelia: I think nothing, my lord. Hamlet: That's a fair thought to lie between maids' legs. Ophelia: What is, my lord? Hamlet: Nothing."
"I stalk about her door, like a strange soul upon the Stygian banks staying for waftage."
"Tis in ourselves that we are thus or thus. Our bodies are our gardens to the which our wills are gardeners."
"The peace of heaven is theirs that lift their swords, in such a just and charitable war."
"O, then, what graces in my love do dwell, that he hath turn'd a heaven unto hell"
"I will be treble-sinewed, hearted, breathed, And fight maliciously; for when mine hours Were nice and lucky, men did ransom lives Of me for jests; but now I'll set my teeth And send to darkness all that stop me."
"Tis a blushing shame-faced spirit that mutinies in a man's bosom. It fills a man full of obstacles. It made me once restore a purse of gold that (by chance) I found. It beggars any man that keeps it."
"Conscience is a thousand swords."
"The very firstlings of my heart shall be The firstlings of my hand."
"I do oppose My patience to his fury, and am arm'd To suffer, with a quietness of spirit, The very tyranny and rage of his."
"Art thou afeard To be the same in thine own act and valour As thou art in desire? Wouldst thou have that Which thou esteem'st the ornament of life, And live a coward in thine own esteem, Letting 'I dare not' wait upon 'I would,' Like the poor cat i' the adage?"