100+ Best William Shakespeare Quotes Full of Wisdom to Influence Your Day (2022)

In the era when people were making their mark in entertainment, there was a man who rose above the rest via his literary tongue and eternal notions. His work not only motivated people of his time but also set a literature standard for writers throughout history. Below we have complied inspirational Shakespeare quotes to uplift your spirit.

William Shakespeare, the greatest dramatist of the world and the greatest writer in the English language, is still alive in millions of hearts through his writing and forever will. Many of us continue to find his writing highly relatable to date.

England’s National Poet

Although written more than 400 years ago, William Shakespeare’s sayings remain timeless. Born in Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire, Shakespeare is often regarded as the national poet of England and “Bard of Avon.” He wrote 39 plays, two long narrative poems, 154 sonnets, and there are also a few verses, but they have uncertain authorship.

Influence

Shakespeare’s work made a lasting impression later not only on literature but also on theatre. He expanded the dramatic potential of genre, characterization, language, and plot with a creative mindset. He heavily influenced the later poetry, and William Shakespeare’s famous lines still echo in our minds.

Style

William Shakespeare wrote all of his plays in a stylized language, but he also adopted the traditional styles later. In the last phase of his career, he adopted many techniques such as irregular stops and pauses, run-on lines, and extreme variations in sentence length and structure.

The strength of design in Shakespeare’s writing made it survive cutting, translation, and expansive interpretation without losing its core drama. He switched to a more artificial style in his late romances, as you can see in William Shakespeare Romeo and Juliet quotes.

All-Time Favorite William Shakespeare Quotes About Life

Till the time, Shakespeare plays and poems have been translated into many languages worldwide and are performed as well. It is rarely seen that a person makes such outstanding achievements that his work is appraised and appreciated by people centuries later.

Whether you are interested in most romantic Shakespeare quotes or his quotes about death, life, time, sadness, love, friendship, family, happiness, education, work, and success, we’ve got them all.

Here the list of most memorable and famous Shakespeare quotes from his plays & poems:

“Some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon them.”
“It is not in the stars to hold our destiny but in ourselves.”
“God has given you one face, and you make yourself another.”
“Our doubts are traitors and make us lose the good we oft might win by fearing to attempt.”
“Sweet are the uses of adversity which, like the toad, ugly and venomous, wears yet a precious jewel in his head.”
“When we are born we cry that we have come to this great stage of fools.”
“How far that little candle throws its beams! So shines a good deed in a naughty world.”
“Life is as tedious as a twice-told tale, Vexing the dull ear of a drowsy man.”
“To be, or not to be: that is the question”
“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.”
“The better part of valor is discretion”
“You speak an infinite deal of nothing.”
“Love all, trust a few, do wrong to none.”
“Be not afraid of greatness. Some are born great, some achieve greatness, and others have greatness thrust upon them.”
“There is nothing either good or bad, but thinking makes it so.”
“Hell is empty and all the devils are here.”
“It is not in the stars to hold our destiny but in ourselves.”
“If music be the food of love, play on, Give me excess of it; that surfeiting, The appetite may sicken, and so die.”
“We know what we are, but not what we may be.”
“Words are easy, like the wind; Faithful friends are hard to find.”
“You speak an infinite deal of nothing.”
“Though she be but little, she is fierce!”
“These violent delights have violent ends And in their triump die, like fire and powder Which, as they kiss, consume”
“My tongue will tell the anger of my heart, or else my heart concealing it will break.”
“My bounty is as boundless as the sea, My love as deep; the more I give to thee, The more I have, for both are infinite.”
“By the pricking of my thumbs, Something wicked this way comes.”
“The course of true love never did run smooth.”
“Lord, what fools these mortals be!”
“Stars, hide your fires; Let not light see my black and deep desires.”
“I like this place and could willingly waste my time in it.”
“Don’t waste your love on somebody, who doesn’t value it.”
“Double, double, toil and trouble; Fire burn, and cauldron bubble!”
“Good night, good night! parting is such sweet sorrow, That I shall say good night till it be morrow.”
“There are more things in Heaven and Earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of in your philosophy.”
“With mirth and laughter let old wrinkles come.”
“Dispute not with her: she is lunatic.”
“Our doubts are traitors, and make us lose the good we oft might win, by fearing to attempt.”
“Though this be madness, yet there is method in’t.”
“Expectation is the root of all heartache.”
“For never was a story of more woe than this of Juliet and her Romeo.”
“Brevity is the soul of wit.”
“To weep is to make less the depth of grief.”
“Listen to many, speak to a few.”
“Give sorrow words; the grief that does not speak knits up the o-er wrought heart and bids it break.”
“Do not swear by the moon, for she changes constantly. then your love would also change.”
“They do not love that do not show their love.”
“One may smile, and smile, and be a villain. ”
“Look like the innocent flower, But be the serpent under it.”
“Conscience doth make cowards of us all.”
“We are such stuff as dreams are made on, and our little life is rounded with a sleep.”
“I had rather hear my dog bark at a crow, than a man swear he loves me.”
“In time we hate that which we often fear.”
“What’s done cannot be undone.”
“Let me be that I am and seek not to alter me.”
“And yet, to say the truth, reason and love keep little company together nowadays.”
“My words fly up, my thoughts remain below: Words without thoughts never to heaven go.”
“What’s past is prologue.”
“Do you bite your thumb at us, sir?”
“Wisely and slow; they stumble that run fast.”
“This above all: to thine own self be true.”
“Love is a smoke made with the fume of sighs.”
“Now cracks a noble heart. Good-night, sweet prince; And flights of angels sing thee to thy rest. ”
“Do you not know I am a woman? when I think, I must speak.”
“Some are born great, others achieve greatness.”
“Parting is such sweet sorrow that I shall say goodnight till it be morrow.”
“When sorrows come, they come not single spies. But in battalions!”
“I do love nothing in the world so well as you- is not that strange?”
“I am not bound to please thee with my answers.”
“When we are born, we cry that we are come to this great stage of fools.”
“My soul is in the sky.”
“Sweets to the sweet.”
“Some Cupid kills with arrows, some with traps.”
“The lady doth protest too much, methinks.”
“Better a witty fool, than a foolish wit.”
“For she had eyes and chose me.”
“Are you sure/That we are awake? It seems to me/That yet we sleep, we dream”
“So wise so young, they say, do never live long.”
“Go wisely and slowly. Those who rush stumble and fall.”
“All’s well that ends well.”
“I defy you, stars.”
“If we are true to ourselves, we can not be false to anyone.”
“For which of my bad parts didst thou first fall in love with me?”
“Be great in act, as you have been in thought.”
“Nothing will come of nothing: speak again.”
“Cry havoc and let slip the dogs of war!”
“Men in rage strike those that wish them best.”
“When I said I would die a bachelor, I did not think I should live till I were married.”
“There’s an old saying that applies to me: you can’t lose a game if you don’t play the game. (Act 1, scene 4)”
“Oh, I am fortune’s fool!”
“There was a star danced, and under that was I born.”
“A sad tale’s best for winter: I have one of sprites and goblins.”
“Love comforteth like sunshine after rain.”
“Suspicion always haunts the guilty mind.”
“Something is rotten in the state of Denmark.”
“Under loves heavy burden do I sink. — Romeo”
“Out of my sight! Thou dost infect mine eyes.”
“I love you with so much of my heart that none is left to protest.”
“in black ink my love may still shine bright.”
“Fair is foul, and foul is fair, hover through fog and filthy air.”
“You are a lover. Borrow Cupid’s wings and soar with them above a common bound.”
“I dare do all that may become a man; Who dares do more, is none”
“I wasted time, and now doth time waste me.”
“Beware the ides of March.”
“I wish my horse had the speed of your tongue.”
“O sleep, O gentle sleep, Nature’s soft nurse, how have I frightened thee. That thou no more will weigh my eyelids down, And steep my senses in forgetfulness?”

If you are looking for some more quotes on success, you can have a look at Bob Marley Quotes.

Conclusion

Shakespeare’s writing left a legacy in the world of literature, and the most amazing thing about his work is that it is still enjoyed by millions of people worldwide who read and study Shakespeare today. Almost half a century has passed, but Shakespeare’s nurturing and powerful words continue to inspire people of a completely different time compared to his own.

Here, we’ve put together Shakespeare’s most memorable quotes from his popular plays and poetry, from classic to love romantic ones. Shakespeare’s work focuses on love, revenge, sorrow, passion, betrayal, and heartbeat, the themes that people of any age and any time can relate to. His plays are highly popular and are rediscovered by new performance and literacy movements.

What’s your all-time favorite William Shakespeare quotes? Did it make our list? Do share your thoughts in the comment section below.

Damian Trujillo

Thursday 5th of November 2020

I loved your post and collection of willam shakespear quotes and sayings. All of us always heard about willam shakespear wisdom but never study about him in detail. I gurantee everyone if you guys study about him in details only then you will get to know about the level of wisdom and knowledge he possesed.