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The following are some Shakepeare quotations on life with links to the plays full text. Sonnet 75 So are you to my thoughts as food to life, Or as sweet-season'd showers are to the ground; And for the peace of you I hold such strife As 'twixt a miser and his wealth is found; (75.1-4) All's Well That Ends Well Love all, trust a few, Do wrong to none: be able for thine enemy Rather in power than use, and keep thy friend Under thy own life's key: be cheque'd for silence, But never tax'd for speech. (1.1.59-63) The web of our life is of a mingled yarn, good and ill together: our virtues would be proud, if our faults whipped them not; and our crimes would despair, if they were not cherished by our virtues. (4.3.66-69) Antony and Cleopatra Kingdoms are clay: our dungy earth alike Feeds beast as man: the nobleness of life Is to do thus; 1.1.38-40) I love long life better than figs. (1.2.32) he wears the rose Of youth upon him; (3.13.25-26) I hope well of to-morrow; and will lead you Where rather I'll expect victorious life Than death and honour. (4.2.55-57) As You Like It I shall do my friends no wrong, for I have none to lament me, the world no injury, for in it I have nothing; only in the world I fill up a place, which may be better supplied when I have made it empty. 1.2.169-173) O, how full of briers is this working-day world! 1.3.9-10) All the world's a stage, And all the men and women merely players: They have their exits and their entrances; And one man in his time plays many parts (2.7.142-145) Will you sit down with me? and we two will rail against our mistress the world and all our misery. 3.2.266-268) Cymbeline Fortune brings in some boats that are not steer'd. (4.3.53) Hamlet I do not set my life in a pin's fee; And for my soul, what can it do to that, Being a thing immortal as itself? (1.4.71-73) take from me any thing that I will more willingly part withal: except my life, except my life, except my life. (2.2.231-233) To be, or not to be: that is the question: Whether 'tis nobler in the mind to suffer The slings and arrows of outrageous fortune, Or to take arms against a sea of troubles, And by opposing end them? To die: to sleep; No more; and by a sleep to say we end The heart-ache and the thousand natural shocks That flesh is heir to, 'tis a consummation Devoutly to be wish'd. (3.1.64-72) there's hope a great man's memory may outlive his life half a year (3.2.129-131) Henry IV, part 1 O, while you live, tell truth and shame the devil! (3.1.63) I could be well content To entertain the lag-end of my life With quiet hours; for I do protest, I have not sought the day of this dislike. (5.1.24-27) But thought's the slave of life, and life time's fool; And time, that takes survey of all the world, Must have a stop. (5.4.83-85) Julius Caesar Think of this life; but, for my single self, I had as lief not be as live to be In awe of such a thing as I myself. (1.2.100-102) Why, man, he doth bestride the narrow world Like a Colossus, and we petty men Walk under his huge legs and peep about To find ourselves dishonourable graves. Men at some time are masters of their fates: The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars, But in ourselves, that we are underlings. (1.2.141-147) But life, being weary of these worldly bars, Never lacks power to dismiss itself. (1.3.99-100) When beggars die, there are no comets seen; The heavens themselves blaze forth the death of princes. (2.2.31-32) Cowards die many times before their deaths; The valiant never taste of death but once. (2.2.33-34) There is a tide in the affairs of men, Which, taken at the flood, leads on to fortune; Omitted, all the voyage of their life Is bound in shallows and in miseries. On such a full sea are we now afloat; And we must take the current when it serves, Or lose our ventures. (4.3.243-249) King John There's nothing in this world can make me joy: Life is as tedious as a twice-told tale Vexing the dull ear of a drowsy man; And bitter shame hath spoil'd the sweet world's taste That it yields nought but shame and bitterness. (3.4.109-113) King Lear I have full cause of weeping; but this heart Shall break into a hundred thousand flaws, Or ere I'll weep. (2.4.311-313) When we are born, we cry that we are come To this great stage of fools (4.6.197-198) Macbeth nothing in his life Became him like the leaving it; he died As one that had been studied in his death To throw away the dearest thing he owed, As 'twere a careless trifle. (1.4.8-12) I go, and it is done; the bell invites me. Hear it not, Duncan; for it is a knell That summons thee to heaven or to hell. (2.1.70-72) Thriftless ambition, that wilt ravin up Thine own life's means! (2.4.35-36) what's done is done. (3.2.14) Out, out, brief candle! Life's but a walking shadow, a poor player That struts and frets his hour upon the stage And then is heard no more: it is a tale Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, Signifying nothing. (5.5.25-30) I bear a charmed life, (5.8.15) Measure for Measure I am so out of love with life that I will sue to be rid of it. (3.1.185-186) A Midsummer Night's Dream To live a barren sister all your life, Chanting faint hymns to the cold fruitless moon. (1.1.74-75) Othello O, beware, my lord, of jealousy; It is the green-eyed monster which doth mock The meat it feeds on; (3.3.188-190) Unkindness may do much; And his unkindness may defeat my life, But never taint my love. (4.2.184-186) Pericles Live, And make us weep to hear your fate, fair creature, Rare as you seem to be. (3.2.117-119) Richard II Mine honour is my life; both grow in one: Take honour from me, and my life is done: (1.1.184-185) Richard III But shall I live in hope? All men, I hope, live so. (1.2.210-211) (question answered by another character) I have set my life upon a cast, And I will stand the hazard of the die: (5.4.9-10) The Tempest Hell is empty And all the devils are here. (1.2.247-248) Timon of Athens Like madness is the glory of this life. (1.2.133) they love thee not that use thee; (4.3.90) When there is nothing living but thee, thou shalt be welcome. (4.3.384-385) I am sick of this false world, and will love nought But even the mere necessities upon 't. (4.3.405) Troilus and Cressida to be wise and love Exceeds man's might; that dwells with gods above. (3.2.150-151) Mine honour keeps the weather of my fate: Lie every man holds dear; but the brave man Holds honour far more precious-dear than life. (5.3.29-31) Twelfth Night you wrong me, and the world shall know it: though you have put me into darkness (5.1.304-306) 'some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrown upon them.' (5.1.378-379) j Mine honour keeps the weather of my fate: Lie every man holds dear; but the brave man Holds honour far more precious-dear than life. (5.3.29-31) Famous quotations (with links) Quotations on love (with links) Quotations on law and lawyers (with links) Quotations on flowers (with links) Quotations on sleep (with links) Quotations references to a candle (with links) Monologues menu (all speeches) Most famous speeches Full list of all Shakespeare’s characters (with link for each character)
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