“Use almost can change the stamp of nature.”
Source: Dictionary of Shakespearian quotations: Exhibiting the most forcible passages illustrative of the various passions, affections and emotions of the human mind
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Famous William Shakespeare Quotes
“It is held that valor is the chiefest virtue, and most dignifies the haver.”
Source: The Dramatic Works of William Shakspeare: Richard III. Henry VIII. Troilus and Cressida. Timon of Athens. Coriolanus
“Vanity keeps persons in favor with themselves who are out of favor with all others.”
“One sin another doth provoke.”
Source: Aphorisms from Shakespeare
“Vice repeated is like the wandering wind, blows dust in others' eyes to spread itself.”
Source: William Shakespeare: The Complete Works
Source: The Works of Shakspeare; from the Text of the Standard Edition by Isaac Reed
“Then with the losers let it sympathize, For nothing can seem foul to those that win.”
Source: The plays of William Shakespeare
“But virtue never will be mov'd, Though lewdness court it in a shape of heaven.”
Source: The plays and poems of William Shakspeare
“For in the fatness of these pursy times Virtue itself of vice must pardon beg.”
“If our virtues did not go forth of us, it were all alike as if we had them not.”
“Virtue preserv'd from fell destruction's blast, Led on by heaven, and crown'd with joy at last.”
Source: The plays and poems of William Shakspeare
“Virtue that transgresses is but patched with sin; and sin that amends is but patched with virtue.”
“Virtue's office never breaks men's troth.”
Source: The plays and poems of William Shakspeare
“My heart laments that virtue cannot live Out of the teeth of emulation.”
Source: Julius Caesar ... With explanatory French notes, by Ad. Brown. Improved with a copious selection of notes from Johnson, Steevens, Malone, Theobald, Warburton, etc
Source: Much Ado About Nothing Simplified!: Includes Study Guide, Biography, and Modern Retelling
“Now, my masters, happy man be his dole, say I; every man to his business.”
Source: The Dramatic Works of William Shakspeare: Comedy of errors. Macbeth. King John. King Richard II. King Henry IV, part 1
“Tis no sin for a man to labor in his vocation.”
Source: Standup Shakespeare
“I had rather eleven died nobly for their country than one voluptuously surfeit out of action.”
Source: The Plays of William Shakspeare: Henry VI, pts. II-III. Dissertation, &c. Richard III
“Religious canons, civil laws, are cruel; then what should war be?”
Source: Titus Andronicus and Timon of Athens: Two Classical Plays
Source: King John
“It is war's prize to take all vantages; And ten to one is no impeach of valor.”
Source: King Henry the Sixth: Parts I, II, and III
“The weakest goes to the wall.”
Source: The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet
“If she be not honest, chaste, and true, there's no man happy.”
Source: The Complete Works of William Shakespeare
“Thou art an elm, my husband, I a vine.”
Source: The works of William Shakespeare
“A hundred thousand welcomes: I could weep, And I could laugh; I am light and heavy: Welcome.”
Source: The plays and poems of William Shakspeare
“A table full of welcome makes scarce one dainty dish.”
Source: Arden Shakespeare: The Comedy Of Errors: Second Series
“The appurtenance of welcome is fashion and ceremony.”
Source: Hamlet
“The will of man is by his reason sway'd.”
Source: The plays and poems of William Shakspeare
Source: The Plays of Shakespeare from the Text of Dr. S. Johnson: With the Prefaces, Notes, Etc. of Rowe, Pope, Theobald, Hanmer, Warburton, Johnson and Select Notes from Many Other Critics ; Also, the Introduction of the Last Editor Mr. Capell; and a Table Shewing His Various Readings ...
“A good wit will make use of anything.”
Source: The New Oxford Shakespeare: Modern Critical Edition: The Complete Works
“I will keep where there is wit stirring, and leave the faction of fools.”
Source: The Complete Works of Shakspeare, Revised from the Best Authorities : with a Memoir, and Essay on His Genius
“So many miseries have craz'd my voice, That my woe-wearied tongue is still and mute.”
Source: Histories of Shakespeare in Plain and Simple English (a Modern Translation and the Original Version)
“Wise men ne'er sit and wail their woes, but presently prevent the ways to wail.”
Source: The Plays of Shakespeare
Source: The plays of William Shakespeare
Source: Antony and Cleopatra
“I was not born under a rhyming planet, nor I cannot woo to in festival terms.”
Source: The plays of William Shakespeare
“A woman impudent and mannish grown Is not more loath'd than an effeminate man.”
Source: The Plays of Shakespeare: The Text Regulated by the Old Copies, and by the Recently Discovered Folio of 1632, Containing Early Manuscript Emendations
“Fear and niceness, the handmaids of all women, or more truly, woman its pretty self.”
Source: The Beauties of Shakespeare, Selected from the Most Correct Editions of His Works: With a Biographical Sketch
Source: The Plays of Shakespeare ; The Text Regulated by the Old Copies, and by the Recently Discovered Folio of 1632, Containing Early Manuscript Emendations
“O most delicate fiend! Who is't can read a woman? Is there more?”
Source: The Dramatic Works and Poems
Source: Love's Labour's Lost
“Have you not heard it said full oft, A woman's nay doth stand for naught?”
Source: The Complete Sonnets and Poems