Portrait of William Shakespeare

William Shakespeare

Greatest playwright in English

Early Modern influential 138 sayings

Sayings by William Shakespeare

I am not an ass, though I wear a fool's coat.

c. 1599-1600 — As You Like It, Act 2, Scene 7
Wisdom Unverifiable

The better part of valour is discretion.

c. 1596-1597 — Henry IV, Part 1, Act 5, Scene 4
Art & Creativity Confirmed

Golden lads and girls all must, as chimney-sweepers, come to dust.

c. 1609-1610 — Cymbeline, Act 4, Scene 2
Wisdom Unverifiable

There is nothing either good or bad, but thinking makes it so.

1601 — From Hamlet, Act 2, Scene 2
Power & Leadership Unverifiable

The fool doth think he is wise, but the wise man knows himself to be a fool.

1599 — From As You Like It, Act 5, Scene 1
Wisdom Unverifiable

I am not in the roll of common men.

1597 — From Henry IV, Part 1, Act 3, Scene 1
Wisdom Unverifiable

The web of our life is of a mingled yarn, good and ill together.

1605 — From All's Well That Ends Well, Act 4, Scene 3
Wisdom Unverifiable

Life's but a walking shadow, a poor player that struts and frets his hour upon the stage and then is heard no more.

1606 — From Macbeth, Act 5, Scene 5
Money & Business Unverifiable

I say there is no darkness but ignorance.

1602 — From Twelfth Night, Act 4, Scene 2
Life & Death Unverifiable

I bear a charmed life.

1606 — From Macbeth, Act 5, Scene 8
Wisdom Unverifiable

The miserable have no other medicine but only hope.

1604 — From Measure for Measure, Act 3, Scene 1
Wisdom Unverifiable

One touch of nature makes the whole world kin.

1602 — From Troilus and Cressida, Act 3, Scene 3
Nature & World Unverifiable

How poor are they that have not patience! What wound did ever heal but by degrees?

1604 — From Othello, Act 2, Scene 3
Money & Business Unverifiable

Sweet are the uses of adversity.

1599 — From As You Like It, Act 2, Scene 1
Wisdom Unverifiable

It is a wise father that knows his own child.

1598 — From The Merchant of Venice, Act 2, Scene 2
Wisdom Unverifiable

Uneasy lies the head that wears a crown.

1598 — From Henry IV, Part 2, Act 3, Scene 1
Wisdom Unverifiable

What's done cannot be undone.

1606 — From Macbeth, Act 5, Scene 1
Wisdom Unverifiable

This above all: to thine own self be true.

1601 — From Hamlet, Act 1, Scene 3
Wisdom Unverifiable

Some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon them.

1602 — From Twelfth Night, Act 2, Scene 5
Inspirational Unverifiable

The robbed that smiles steals something from the thief.

1604 — From Othello, Act 1, Scene 3
Wisdom Unverifiable
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