Famous Shakespeare Quotes

You do not have to read a lot of works by William Shakespeare (1564-1616) to be familiar with some of his famous quotes. Being able to able to break into a Shakespeare soliloquy at a moment’s notice is a rather impressive feat. There are some famous Shakespeare quotes that are worth their weight in gold and are still highly relevant today. Here you will find a list of 20 Shakespeare quotes that will easily score points if you use one at an appropriate moment.

Famous Shakespeare Quotes

Shakespeare was a remarkable observer of human nature and many of his plays contain gems of wit, humor, and candor.

Below are 10 Shakespeare quotes followed by a modern-day translation.

1. "This above all: to thine own self be true." (Hamlet - Act 1, Scene 2). Translation: Be true to yourself.  
2. "There is nothing either good or bad, but thinking makes it so." (Hamlet - Act II, Scene II). Translation: It is our mind that judges whether something is good or bad, but in reality nothing there is no good or bad.  
3. "It's not enough to speak, but to speak true." (Midsummer Night’s Dream - Act 5, Scene 1). Translation: Do not talk just to talk. It is more important that when you do speak to tell the truth.
4. "Et tu, Brute?" (Julius Caesar - Act 3, Scene 1). Translation: Use this quote when someone has betrayed you, just as Julius Caesar said to his 'friend' Brutus who played a role in Caesar's assassination).
5. "Neither a borrower nor a lender be; for loan oft loses both itself and friend." (Hamlet - Act 1, Scene 3). Translation: Basically, one should avoid lending and borrowing money from friends because it could eventually lead to trouble in the relationship.  
6. "The course of true love never did run smooth." (Midsummer Night’s Dream - Act 1, Scene 1). Translation: Love is never easy and like a river it is not always smooth.
7. "Be not afraid of greatness: some are born great, some achieve greatness and some have greatness thrust upon them." (Twelfth Night - Act 2, Scene 5). Translation: No matter how greatness comes to you, do not fear it. 
8.  "All the world's a stage and all the men and women merely players." (As You Like It - Act 2, Scene 7). Translation: Life is like a play and human beings are like actors within the play.
9. "There's daggers in men's smiles." (Macbeth - Act 2, Scene 3). Translation: Not everyone who smiles is a friend.
10. "All that glisters is not gold." (Merchant of Venice - Act 2, Scene 7). Translation: Do not judge everything by its appearance.

Famous Shakespeare Love Quotes

Shakespeare's plays are full of love lost and gained. Here are 10 of his most famous comments about love.

1. Love looks not with eyes, but with the mind." (Midsummer Night’s Dream - Act 1, Scene 1).
2. “When I saw you I fell in love, and you smiled because you knew. “(Hamlet, Act 2, Scene 2).
3. "A heart to love, and in that heart, courage, to make love known"(Macbeth Act 2 Scene 3)
4. “Love sought is good, but given unsought is better.” (Twelfth Night Act 3 Scene 1).
5. “Who ever loved that loved not at first sight? “ (As You Like It - Act 3, Scene 5).
6. “If music be the food of love, play on.” (Twelfth Night, Act I, Scene I)
7. “Love is blind, and lovers cannot see, The pretty follies that themselves commit”(Merchant of Venice - Act 2, Scene 6)
8. "The course of true love never did run smooth." (Midsummer Night’s Dream, Act I, Scene I).
9. "When you depart from me sorrow abides, and happiness takes his leave."(Much Ado About Nothing - Act 1, Scene 1).
10. "They do not love that do not show their love." (The Two Gentlemen of Verona – Act 1, Scene 2)

Additional Resources

For more quotes by Shakespeare, check out the following websites:

CliffNotes has a list of quotes from some of Shakespeare's famous plays.

Enotes has an extensive list of 200 Shakespeare quotes.