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
Suspicion always haunts the guilty mind: the thief doth fear each bush an officer.
—William Shakespeare
Topics: Guilt
The teeming Autumn big with rich increase, bearing the wanton burden of the prime like widowed wombs after their lords decease.
—William Shakespeare
Topics: Seasons, Autumn
Not that I have the power to clutch my hand
When his fair angels would salute by palm,
But for my hand, as unattempted yet,
Like a poor beggar, raileth on the rich.
Well, whiles I am a beggar, I will rail
And say there is no sin but to be rich;
And being rich, my virtue then shall be
To say there is no vice but beggary.
—William Shakespeare
Topics: Wealth
He was a wise fellow, and had good discretion, that, being bid to ask what he would of the king, desired he might know none of his secrets.
—William Shakespeare
Topics: Secrecy
What rein can hold licentious wickedness, when down the hill he holds his fierce career?
—William Shakespeare
Topics: Wickedness
Some are born great; some achieve greatness; and some have greatness thrust upon them.
—William Shakespeare
Topics: Greatness
Much rain wears the marble.
—William Shakespeare
Topics: One Step at a Time, Perseverance
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, Habits, Habit
When we are born we cry that we are come to this great stage of fools.
—William Shakespeare
Topics: Fools
Do you know what a man is? Are not birth, beauty, good shape, discourse, manhood, learning, gentleness, virtue, youth, liberality, and such like, the spice and salt that season a man?
—William Shakespeare
Topics: Man
The better part of valor is discretion, in the which better part I have saved my life.
—William Shakespeare
Topics: Valor
It is not enough to help the feeble up, but to support him after.
—William Shakespeare
Topics: Generosity
To say the truth, reason and love keep little company together now-a-days.
—William Shakespeare
Topics: Love, Togetherness
They are the abstract and brief chronicles of the time, to show virtue her own image; scorn, her own features; and the very age and body of the time, his form and pressure.
—William Shakespeare
Topics: Epitaphs
He that dies pays all his debts.
—William Shakespeare
Topics: Debt
The mind by passion driven from its firm hold, becomes a feather to each wind that blows.
—William Shakespeare
Topics: Passion
The jury, passing on the prisoner’s life, may have in the sworn twelve a thief or two guiltier than him they try.
—William Shakespeare
Topics: Justice
This is the monstrosity in love, lady, that the will is infinite and the execution confined; that the desire is boundless, and the act a slave to limit.
—William Shakespeare
Topics: Desires
Comparisons are odorous.
—William Shakespeare
Had I a dozen sons,—each in my love alike,—I had rather have eleven die nobly for their country, than one voluptuously surfeit out of action.
—William Shakespeare
Topics: Patriotism
Violent delights have violent ends, and in their triumph die; like fire and powder, which, as they kiss, consume.—They are as sick that surfeit with too much, as they that starve with nothing.
—William Shakespeare
Topics: Excess, Weight, Violence, Diet
Exceedingly well read and profited in strange concealments.
—William Shakespeare
Topics: Reading
Murder’s out of tune,
And sweet revenge grows harsh.
—William Shakespeare
Topics: Revenge
As he was valiant, I honor him. But as he was ambitious, I slew him.
—William Shakespeare
Topics: Ambition
Love comforteth like sunshine after rain.
—William Shakespeare
Topics: Love
Cry “havoc!” and let loose the dogs of war, that this foul deed shall smell above the earth with carrion men, groaning for burial.
—William Shakespeare
Topics: War
To be traduced by ignorant tongues, is the rough brake that virtue must go through.
—William Shakespeare
Death makes no conquest of this conqueror: For now he lives in fame, though not in life.
—William Shakespeare
Topics: Fame
Sorrow breaks season, and reposing hours; makes the night morning, and the noontide night.
—William Shakespeare
Topics: Sadness, Sorrow, Ethics
Reputation, reputation, reputation! O, I ha lost my reputation, I ha lost the immortal part of myself, and what remains is bestial!
—William Shakespeare
Topics: Reputation
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