2,311 Famous Quotes by William Shakespeare
4/23/1564 - 4/23/1616
Also Known As:
Shakespeare
The Bard
Shaxper
Professions:
Information:
About William Shakespeare
William Shakespeare was an English poet and playwright, widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's pre-eminent dramatist. He is often called England's national poet and the "Bard of Avon". His extant works, including some collaborations, consist of about 38 plays, 154 sonnets, two long narrative poems, two epitaphs on a man named John Combe, one epitaph on Elias James, and several other poems. His plays have been translated into every major living language and are performed more often than those of any other playwright.
Shakespeare was born and brought up in Stratford-upon-Avon. At the age of 18, he married Anne Hathaway, with whom he had three children: Susanna, and twins Hamnet and Judith. Between 1585 and 1592, he began a successful career in London as an actor, writer, and part owner of a playing company called the Lord Chamberlain's Men, later known as the King's Men. He appears to have retired to Stratford around 1613 at age 49, where he died three years later. Few records of Shakespeare's private life survive, and there has been considerable speculation about such matters as his physical appearance, sexuality, religious beliefs, and whether the works attributed to him were written by others.
O, how this spring of love resembleth
The uncertain glory of an April day,
Which now shows all the beauty of the sun,
And by and by a cloud takes all away!
Proverbs
Quotes, by William Shakespeare , Source: The Two Gentlemen of Verona (Proteus at I, iii)
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But neither bended knees, pure hands held up,
Sad sighs, deep groans, nor silver-shedding tears,
Could penetrate her uncompassionate sire.
Proverbs
Quotes, by William Shakespeare , Source: The Two Gentlemen of Verona (Proteus at III, i)
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The hair that covers the wit is more than the wit, for the
greater hides the less.
Proverbs
Quotes, by William Shakespeare , Source: The Two Gentlemen of Verona (Launce at III, i)
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Our sincerest laughter
With some pain is fraught:
Our sweetest songs are those which tell of saddest thought.
Proverbs
Quotes, by William Shakespeare , Source: The Winter's Tale (Autolycus at IV, iv)
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Sceptre and crown must tumble down
And in the dust be equal made
With the poor crooked scythe and spade.
Proverbs
Quotes, by William Shakespeare , Source: The Winter's Tale (Autolycus at IV, iv)
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Sweet are the uses of adversity,
Which, like the toad, ugly and venomous,
Wears yet a precious jewel in his head.
Adversity
Quotes, by William Shakespeare , Source: As You Like It (Duke Senior at II, i)
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A wretched soul, bruised with adversity,
We bid be quiet when we hear it cry.
But were we burd'ned with like weight of pain,
As much or more we should ourselves complain:
So thou, that hast no unkind mate to grieve thee,
With urging helpless patience wouldst relieve me;
But if thou live to see like right bereft,
This fool-begged patience in thee will be left.
Adversity
Quotes, by William Shakespeare , Source: The Comedy of Errors (Adriana at I, ii)
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Let me embrace thee, sour adversity,
For wise men say it is the wisest course.
Adversity
Quotes, by William Shakespeare , Source: King Henry the Sixth, Part III (King Henry at III, i)
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His overthrow heaped happiness upon him;
For then, and not till then, he felt himself,
And found the blessedness of being little.
Adversity
Quotes, by William Shakespeare , Source: The Life of King Henry the Eighth (Griffith at IV, ii)
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Then know, that I have little wealth to lose.
A man I am, crossed with adversity;
My riches are these poor habiliments,
Of which if you should here disfurnish me,
You take the sum and substance that I have.
Adversity
Quotes, by William Shakespeare , Source: The Two Gentlemen of Verona (Valentine at IV, i)
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