Inspirational Quotations

Inspirational Quotes by William Shakespeare (British Playwright)

William Shakespeare (1564–1616) was an English poet and playwright. The “Bard of Avon” is widely regarded as the best English language writer ever, unrivaled in widespread and critical acclaim. Shakespeare’s greatness lies not only in the impressive range and the virtuosity of his literary output but also in the power he offered readers to uncover themselves in the mirror of his literature.

Not many particulars of Shakespeare’s life are documented, except for a few scanty records that fix his birth, marriage, the baptism of his three children, and his brilliant success as a playwright and an actor. There is much speculation about many aspects of Shakespeare’s life, including the authorship and chronology of his works, his physical appearance, and his religious affiliation. All this ambiguity about Shakespeare’s life and creative development has factored into his legend as an inborn artist rather than an intentional dramatist. Innumerable literary scholars and historians have dedicated their careers not only to throw light on the mystery of Shakespeare, but also to investigate for probable alternative authors to his works—the education, life, and literary output of Francis Bacon, Edward de Vere, and other authors of that age appear a better fit to explain Shakespeare’s genius.

Shakespeare produced most of his famous works, viz., Romeo and Juliet, Hamlet, King Lear, Macbeth, Julius Caesar, and others, between the ages of 25 and 49. His authorship consists of about 38 plays, 154 sonnets, two long narrative poems, and several other poems. His plays, divided equally among tragedies, comedies, histories, and romance, explore the subtlety of behavior and the psychology of the human experience.

More: Wikipedia • READ: Works by William Shakespeare

Two may keep counsel, putting one away.
—William Shakespeare
Topics: Secrecy

Of all the wonders that I yet have heard it seems to me most strange that men should fear seeing that death a necessary end will come when it will come.
—William Shakespeare

What angel wakes me from my flowery bed?
—William Shakespeare
Topics: Sleep

It is silliness to live when to live is torment.
—William Shakespeare
Topics: Living

Our wills and fates do so contrary run, that our devices still are overthrown; our thoughts are ours, their ends none of our own.
—William Shakespeare
Topics: Thought, Fate

Reputation is an idle and most false imposition; oft got without merit and lost without deserving.
—William Shakespeare
Topics: Reputation

Be just and fear not; let all the ends thou aimest at be thy country’s, thy God’s, and truth’s.
—William Shakespeare
Topics: Patriotism, Justice

You common cry of ours! whose breath I hate as reek o’ the rotten fens, whose loves I prize as the dead carcasses of unburied men that do corrupt the air.
—William Shakespeare

I had rather have a fool make me merry, than experience make me sad.
—William Shakespeare
Topics: Happiness, Cheerfulness

Ah! what a sign it is of evil life, when death’s approach is seen so terrible!
—William Shakespeare
Topics: Death

Manhood is melted into courtesies, valor into compliment, and men are only turned into tongue, and trim ones, too.
—William Shakespeare
Topics: Manners

The guilt being great, the fear doth still exceed.
—William Shakespeare
Topics: One liners, Guilt

Perseverance, dear my lord, keeps honor bright. To have none, is to hang quite out of fashion, like a rusty nail in monumental mockery.
—William Shakespeare
Topics: Perseverance

I have no other but a woman’s reason; I think him so, because I think him so.
—William Shakespeare
Topics: Reason

A killing tongue, but a quiet sword.
—William Shakespeare

He is winding the watch of his wit; by and by it will strike.
—William Shakespeare
Topics: Wit

Though it make the unskillful laugh, cannot but make the judicious grieve.
—William Shakespeare
Topics: Comedy

O, it is excellent to have a giant’s strength, but it is tyrannous to use it like a giant.
—William Shakespeare
Topics: Control, Strength, Self-Control

How use doth breed a habit in a man! this shadowy desert, unfrequented woods, I better brook than flourishing peopled towns.
—William Shakespeare
Topics: Retirement, Habit, Habits

The end crowns all; and that old common arbitrator, time, will one day end it.
—William Shakespeare
Topics: Time

Men of few words are the best men.
—William Shakespeare
Topics: Words, One liners

Vanity keeps persons in favor with themselves who are out of favor with all others.
—William Shakespeare
Topics: Vanity

Dissembling courtesy! How fine this tyrant can trickle when she wounds.
—William Shakespeare
Topics: Kindness

I come to bury Caesar, not to praise him. The evil that men do lives after them; the good is oft interred with their bones.
—William Shakespeare
Topics: Death, Evils

Nothing emboldens sin so much as mercy.
—William Shakespeare
Topics: Mercy

Hanging and wiving go by destiny.
—William Shakespeare
Topics: Marriage, Wife

The brain may devise laws for the blood, but a hot temper leaps over a cold decree.
—William Shakespeare
Topics: Passion

Is it not strange that desire should so many years outlive performance?
—William Shakespeare
Topics: Peculiarity, Performance, Oddity

Passion makes the will lord of the reason.
—William Shakespeare
Topics: Passion

Temptation is the fire that brings up the scum of the heart.
—William Shakespeare
Topics: Temptation

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