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Famous Quotes from Shakespeare: Examples and Meanings

"Famous Quotes from Shakespeare: Examples and Meanings"

  1. "To be, or not to be: that is the question." - Hamlet This quote is from Hamlet's famous soliloquy in Act III, Scene I. Hamlet is contemplating the meaning of life and questioning whether it is better to suffer the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune or to take action against his troubles and end them.

  2. "All the world's a stage, and all the men and women merely players." - As You Like It This quote is spoken by Jaques in Act II, Scene VII. He is describing life as a play, with people playing different roles at different times in their lives.

  3. "A rose by any other name would smell as sweet." - Romeo and Juliet This quote is spoken by Juliet in Act II, Scene II. She is expressing her love for Romeo and saying that his name does not matter; he would still be the same person even if he had a different name.

  4. "What's in a name? That which we call a rose / By any other name would smell as sweet." - Romeo and Juliet This quote is a continuation of Juliet's line, expressing the same sentiment.

  5. "To thine own self be true, and it must follow, as the night the day, thou canst not then be false to any man." - Hamlet This quote is spoken by Polonius in Act I, Scene III. He is giving advice to his son Laertes, urging him to be true to himself and to others.

  6. "O, she doth teach the torches to burn bright!" - Romeo and Juliet This quote is spoken by Romeo in Act I, Scene V, upon seeing Juliet for the first time. He is expressing his admiration for her beauty and grace.

  7. "Good night, good night! Parting is such sweet sorrow." - Romeo and Juliet This quote is spoken by Juliet in Act II, Scene II, as she says goodbye to Romeo. She is expressing her sadness at having to leave him, but also the sweetness of their love.

  8. "All that glitters is not gold." - The Merchant of Venice This quote is spoken by the character Prince of Morocco in Act II, Scene VII. He is saying that appearances can be deceiving, and that just because something looks valuable does not mean it actually is.

  9. "The lady doth protest too much, methinks." - Hamlet This quote is spoken by Queen Gertrude in Act III, Scene II. She is observing a play within the play and expressing her skepticism about the actress's exaggerated protestations of love.

  10. "There is nothing either good or bad, but thinking makes it so." - Hamlet This quote is spoken by Hamlet in Act II, Scene II. He is reflecting on the subjective nature of good and evil, and how our perceptions shape our understanding of the world.

  11. "Brevity is the soul of wit." - Hamlet This quote is spoken by Polonius in Act II, Scene II. He is commenting on the concise and clever nature of a play he has just seen, suggesting that brevity is an important aspect of wit.

  12. "Love all, trust a few, do wrong to none." - All's Well That Ends Well This quote is spoken by the character Bertram in Act I, Scene I. He is giving advice to his friend Parolles, urging him to be loving, but also cautious and fair.

  13. "Some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon them." - Twelfth Night This quote is spoken by the character Malvolio in Act II, Scene V. He is reading a letter he believes to be from Olivia, which suggests that she has feelings for him and that he is destined for greatness.

  1. "We are such stuff as dreams are made on, and our little life is rounded with a sleep." - The Tempest This quote is spoken by the character Prospero in Act IV, Scene I. He is reflecting on the transience of human life and the impermanence of our worldly experiences.

  2. "The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars, but in ourselves." - Julius Caesar This quote is spoken by Cassius in Act I, Scene II. He is urging Brutus to take action against Caesar and suggesting that their fate is not predetermined by the stars, but rather by their own choices and actions.

  3. "All that we see or seem is but a dream within a dream." - The Tempest This quote is spoken by the character Prospero in Act IV, Scene I. He is reflecting on the nature of reality and the ephemeral nature of our experiences.

  4. "If music be the food of love, play on." - Twelfth Night This quote is spoken by Duke Orsino in Act I, Scene I. He is expressing his desire for music to soothe his melancholic heart and his longing for love.

  5. "What's done cannot be undone." - Macbeth This quote is spoken by Lady Macbeth in Act V, Scene I. She is expressing her remorse and guilt over the murder of King Duncan, acknowledging that their actions cannot be undone.

  6. "The course of true love never did run smooth." - A Midsummer Night's Dream This quote is spoken by the character Lysander in Act I, Scene I. He is acknowledging the challenges and obstacles that often arise in romantic relationships.

  7. "Cowards die many times before their deaths; the valiant never taste of death but once." - Julius Caesar This quote is spoken by Julius Caesar in Act II, Scene II. He is reflecting on the inevitability of death and the importance of bravery in the face of mortality.