William Shakespeare was an English poet, playwright, and actor, widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world’s pre-eminent dramatist. He is often called England’s national poet, and the Bard of Avon. His extant works, including collaborations, consist of approximately 38 plays, 154 sonnets, two long narrative poems, and a few other verses, some of the uncertain authorship. His plays have been translated into every major living language and are performed more often than those of any other playwright. May Shakespeare’s Quotes on Life lessons inspire you to know who you are and become an individual of action who makes your dreams a reality.
We’d like to share our favorite William Shakespeare quotes on life lessons with you. Among Shakespeare’s hundreds of characters, there are numerous observations about life and living. The Shakespeare quotes about life below are taken from across all of his many plays and sonnets. But there are many more uplifting Shakespeare life quotes, Shakespeare quotes on life lessons, Shakespeare quotes on life and love, Shakespeare quotes about life changes, Shakespeare quotes about happiness, Shakespeare quotes on success, and Shakespeare quotes about humanity for you to light up your day and give you some motivation to see how beautiful our life is according to the famous writer.
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Shakespeare’s Quotes about Life
Life is as tedious as a twice-told tale, vexing the dull ear of a drowsy man.
I cannot tell what you and other men Think of this life; but, for my single self, I had as lief not be as live to be In awe of such a thing as I myself.
Out, out, brief candle! Life’s but a walking shadow, A poor player that struts and frets his hour upon the stage, and then is heard no more: It is a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing.
And this our life, exempt from public haunt, Finds tongues in trees, books in the running brooks, Sermons in stones, and good in everything.
The web of our life is of a mingled yarn, good and ill together. excellent! I love long life better than figs.
To be, or not to be, that is the question.
This day I breathed first: time is come round, And where I did begin there shall I end; My life is run his compass.
When we are born, we cry, that we are come To this great stage of fools.
I bear a charmed life.
It is silliness to live when to live is torment; and then have we a prescription to die when death is our physician.
Why, what should be the fear? I do not set my life at a pin’s fee. gentlemen, the time of life is short! To spend that shortness basely were too long, If life did ride upon a dial’s point, Still ending at the arrival of an hour.
Thy life’s a miracle.
That but this blownMight be the be-all and the end-all here, But here, upon this bank and shoal of time,
We’d jump the life to come.
The sands are number’d that make up my life; Here must I stay, and here my life must end.
Nor stony tower, nor walls of beaten brass, Nor airless dungeon, nor strong links of iron, Can be retentive to the strength of spirit; But life, being weary of these worldly bars, Never lacks power to dismiss itself.
Had I but died an hour before this chance, I had liv’d a blessed time; for, from this instant, There’s nothing serious in mortality: All is but toys; renown, and grace is dead; The wine of life is drawn, and the mere lees Is left this vault to brag of.
So weary with disasters, tugg’d with fortune, That I would set my life on any chance, To mend, or be rid on’t.
Her father lov’d me; oft invited me; Still question’d me the story of my life, From year to year, the battles, sieges, fortunes, That I have pass’d.
Reason thus with life: If I do lose thee, I do lose a thing That none but fools would keep.
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Shakespeare quotes on life and love
Life is a shuttle.
And a man’s life’s no more than to say ‘One’
Let life be short: else shame will be too long.
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.
A man can die but once.
We are such stuff as dreams are made on and our little life is rounded with a sleep.
Life’s but a walking shadow, a poor player, that struts and frets his hour upon the stage, and then is heard no more; it is a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing.
Some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon them.
And this, our life, exempt from public haunt, finds tongues in trees, books in the running brooks, sermons in stones, and good in everything.
The time of life is short; to spend that shortness basely were too long.
Lay aside life-harming heaviness, And entertain a cheerful disposition.
The evil that men do lives after them; the good is oft interred with their bones.
So wise so young, they say, never do live long.
It is silliness to live when to live is torment, and then have we a prescription to die when death is our physician.
By medicine life may be prolonged, yet death will seize the doctor too.
There where my fortune lives, there my life dies.
You cannot, sir, take from me any thing that I will more willingly part withal: except my life, except my life, except my life.
Mine honour is my life; both grow in one: Take honour from me, and my life is done
Give that which gave thee life unto the worms.
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, His acts being seven ages.
Cowards die many times before their deaths; the valiant never taste of death but once.
So long as men can breathe, or eyes can see, So long lives this, and this gives life to thee.
Your name from hence immortal life shall have, Though I, once gone, to all the world must die
I impair not beauty being mute, When others would give life, and bring a tomb. There lives more life in one of your fair eyes Than both your poets can in praise devise.
Give my love fame faster than Time wastes life, So thou prevent’st his scythe and crooked knife.
Life no longer than thy love will stay, For it depends upon that love of thine.
Shakespeare quotes about life changes
The leopard does not change his spots.
The love of wicked men converts to fear; That fear to hate, and hate turns one or both To worthy danger and deserved death.
Old fashions please me best; I am not so nice To change true rules for odd inventions.
Think’st thou I’d make a life of jealousy, To follow still the changes of the moon With fresh suspicions? No; to be once in doubt Is once to be resolved.
This world is not for aye, nor ’tis not strange That even our loves should with our fortunes change, For ’tis a question left us yet to prove, Whether love lead fortune, or else fortune love.
All things that we ordained festival Turn from their office to black funeral– Our instruments to melancholy bells, Our wedding cheer to a sad burial feast; Our solemn hymns to sullen dirges change; Our bridal flowers serve for a buried corse; And all things change them to the contrary.
Since I do purpose to marry, I will think nothing to any purpose that the world can say against it; and therefore never floutat me for what I have said against it; for man is a giddy thing, and this is my conclusion.
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Shakespeare quotes about happiness
But here’s the joy: my friend and I are one, Sweet flattery!
The treasury of everlasting joy!
Right joyous are we to behold your face, Most worthy brother England; fairly met!
My joy is death- Death, at whose name I oft have been afeard, Because I wish’d this world’s eternity.
Bring me a constant woman to her husband, One that ne’er dream’d a joy beyond his pleasure, And to that woman, when she has done most, Yet will I add an honour-a great patience.
There’s nothing in this world can make me joy.
For here, I hope, begins our lasting joy. love, be moderate, allay thy ecstasy, In measure rain thy joy, scant this excess!
Heaven, the treasury of everlasting joy.
Than by destruction dwell in doubtful joy.
But here’s the joy my friend and I are one… Then she loves but me alone
My life, my joy, my food, my ail the world!
How much better is it to weep at joy than to joy at weeping.
This told, I joy; but then no longer glad,
I send them back again and straight grow sad.
God that men should put an enemy in their mouths to steal away their brains that we should, with joy, pleasance, revel, and applause, transform ourselves into beasts.
There is tears for his love, joy for his fortune, honor for his valor, and death for his ambition.
What win I, if I gain the thing I seek A dream, a breath, a froth of fleeting joy. Who buys a minute’s mirth to wail a week Or sells eternity to ‘get a toy For one sweet grape who will the vine destroy
Where joy most revels, grief doth most lament; Grief joys, joy grieves, on slender accident.
And now what rests but that we spend the time; With stately triumphs, mirthful comic shows, Such as befits the pleasure of the court; Sound drums and trumpets farewell sour annoy; For here, I hope, begins our lasting joy.
How sweet is love itself possess’d, When but love’s shadows are so rich in joy!
Lay aside life-harming heaviness, And entertain a cheerful disposition.
Silence is the perfectest herald of joy I were but little happy, if I could say how much.
If this be so, the gods do mean to strike me To death with mortal joy.
Twixt two extremes of passion, joy and grief, Burst smilingly.
I wish you all the joy you can wish.
Joy absent, grief is present for that time.
All days of glory, joy, and happiness.
Be cheerful; wipe thine eyes.
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Shakespeare quotes on success
We know what we are, but know not what we may be. William Shakespeare
Give every man thy ear but few thy voice. William Shakespeare
Love me or hate me, both are in my favor, if you love me, I’ll always be in your heart, if you hate me, I’ll always be in your mind. William Shakespeare
I always feel happy, you know why? Because I don’t expect anything from anyone, expectations always hurt. Life is short, so love your life, be happy and keep smiling. William Shakespeare
Have more than you show, speak less than you know. William Shakespeare
Just live for yourself and before you speak, listen.
To do a great right do a little wrong. William Shakespeare
There is nothing either good or bad but thinking makes it so. William Shakespeare
God has given you one face, and you make yourself another. William Shakespeare
Love all, trust a few, do wrong to none. William Shakespeare
Always the wrong person gives you the right lesson in life. William Shakespeare
Knowledge is the wing wherewith we fly to heaven. William Shakespeare
Words are easy, like the wind; Faithful friends are hard to find. William Shakespeare
Time is very slow for those who wait. Very fast for those who are scared. Very long for those who celebrate. But for those who love, time is eternal. William Shakespeare
No legacy is so rich as honesty. William Shakespeare
If money go before, all ways do lie open. William Shakespeare
A friend is one that knows you as you are, understands where you have been, accepts what you have become, and still gently allows you to grow. William Shakespeare
All the worlds 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. William Shakespeare
Some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon them. William Shakespeare
The eyes are the window to your soul. William Shakespeare
If to do were as easy to know what were good to do. William Shakespeare
Love looks not with the eyes but with the mind. William Shakespeare
Speak what we feel, not what we ought to say. William Shakespeare
Life’s but a walking shadow, a poor player, that struts and frets his hour upon the stage, and then is heard no more; it is a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing. William Shakespeare
Expectation is the root of all heartache. William Shakespeare
Things done well and with a care, exempt themselves from fear. William Shakespeare
There is no darkness but ignorance. William Shakespeare
Talking isn’t doing. It is a kind of good deed to say well; and yet words are not deeds. William Shakespeare
Cowards die many times before their deaths; the valiant never taste of death but once. William Shakespeare
Like as the waves make towards the pebbled shore, so do our minutes hasten to their end. William Shakespeare
Love cometh like sunshine after rain. William Shakespeare
Teach me how I should forget to think. William Shakespeare
Be great in act, as you have been in thought. William Shakespeare
Make not your thoughts your prisons. William Shakespeare
To thine own self be true. William Shakespeare
Shakespeare quotes about humanity
A rarer spirit never Did steer humanity; but you gods will give us Some faults to make us men.
I have thought some of Nature’s journeymen had made men and not made them well, they imitated humanity so abominably.
My father compounded with my mother under the Dragon’s tail, and my nativity was under Ursa Major, so that it follows, I am roughand lecherous. Tut, I should have been that I am, had the maidenliest star in the firmament twinkled on my bastardizing.
What should such fellows as I do crawling between earth and heaven?
