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
To thine own self be true.
—William Shakespeare
Trust not him that hath once broken faith; he who betrayed thee once, will betray thee again.
—William Shakespeare
Topics: Caution, Confidence
A man loves the meat in his youth that he cannot endure in his age.
—William Shakespeare
Topics: Time, Youth
Joy delights in Joy.
—William Shakespeare
There is nothing either good or bad, but thinking makes it so.
—William Shakespeare
Topics: Thinking, Ethics, Attitude, Thought, Thoughts
If thou art rich, thou art poor; for, like an ass, whose back with ingots bows, thou bearest thy heavy riches but a journey, and death unloads thee.
—William Shakespeare
Topics: Wealth, Riches
Hear the meaning within the word.
—William Shakespeare
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.
—William Shakespeare
Come what may, time and the hour runs through the roughest day.
—William Shakespeare
Topics: Resilience, Patience, Persistence
I am in blood
Stepped in so far that, should I wade no more,
Returning were as tedious as go oer.
—William Shakespeare
Striving to better, oft we mar what’s well.
—William Shakespeare
Topics: Perfection
If all the year were playing holidays, to sport would be as tedious as to work: but when they seldom come, they wished for come, and nothing pleaseth but rare accidents.
—William Shakespeare
Topics: Holidays, One liners, Perspective, Pleasure
But screw your courage to the sticking-place, and we’ll not fail.
—William Shakespeare
Topics: Courage, Bravery
Society is no comfort to one not sociable.
—William Shakespeare
Topics: Society
I can no other answer make, but, thanks, and thanks.
—William Shakespeare
The devil can cite Scripture for his purpose.
An evil soul producing holy witness
Is like a villain with a smiling cheek,
A goodly apple rotten at the heart.
O, what a goodly outside falsehood hath!
—William Shakespeare
Topics: Argument, Perspective, Hypocrisy, Evil
In such business
Action is eloquence, and the eyes of th’ ignorant
More learned than the ears.
—William Shakespeare
Doubt that the stars are fire;
Doubt that the sun doth move;
Doubt truth to be a liar, but never doubt love.
—William Shakespeare
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
Celerity is never more admired than by the negligent.
—William Shakespeare
Topics: Fame
I wasted time, and now doth time waste me.
—William Shakespeare
Topics: Time, Value of Time, Carpe-diem, Time Management
The very substance of the ambitious is merely the shadow of a dream.
—William Shakespeare
Topics: Ambition, Dreams
The worst is not so long as we can say, “This is the worst”.
—William Shakespeare
Topics: Worry, Accepting the Worst
Rich honesty dwells like a miser, sir, in a poor house; as your pearl in a foul oyster.
—William Shakespeare
This, too, shall pass.
—William Shakespeare
Topics: Difficulty
Beware of entrance to a quarrel; but, being in, bear it that the opposer may beware of thee.
—William Shakespeare
Be great in act, as you have been in thought.
—William Shakespeare
One touch of nature makes the whole world kin.
—William Shakespeare
Topics: Nature
We know what we are, but know not what we may be.
—William Shakespeare
Topics: Future, Potential, The Future, Vision
A gentleman that loves to hear himself talk, will speak more in a minute than he will stand to in a month.
—William Shakespeare
Topics: Confidence, Self-talk
Who dares do all that may become a man, and dares no more, he is a man indeed.
—William Shakespeare
Topics: Courage, Man, Bravery
This was the noblest Roman of them all.
All the conspirators save only he
Did that they did in envy of great Caesar.
He only in a general honest thought
And common good to all, made one of them.
His life was gentle, and the elements
So mixed in him that Nature might stand up
And say to all the world, “This was a man.”
—William Shakespeare
Things done well and with care, exempt themselves from fear.
—William Shakespeare
Topics: Anxiety, Fear, Caution
Hell is empty and all the devils are here.
—William Shakespeare
While thou livest, keep a good tongue in thy head.
—William Shakespeare
Our doubts are traitors and make us lose the good we oft might win by fearing to attempt.
—William Shakespeare
Topics: Courage, Confidence, Uncertainty, Win, Fear, Good, Assurance, Doubt, Success
Be great in act, as you have been in thought. Suit the action to the word and the word to the action.”
—William Shakespeare
Topics: Thoughts, Action
The lunatic, the lover, and the poet, are of imagination all compact.
—William Shakespeare
Topics: Imagination
Cowards die many times before their deaths. The valiant never taste of death but once.
—William Shakespeare
Wisely and slow;—they stumble that run fast.
—William Shakespeare
Topics: Perseverance, Hatred, Resolve, Endurance, Wisdom, Patience, Resilience
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