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

I had rather be a toad, and live upon the vapor of a dungeon than keep a corner in the thing I love for others uses.
William Shakespeare
Topics: Jealousy, Defects

For his bounty, there was no winter in’t; an autumn ’twas that grew the more by reaping.
William Shakespeare
Topics: Generosity

Repentance is the heart’s sorrow, and a clear life ensuing.
William Shakespeare
Topics: Repentance

He is but the counterfeit of a man, who has not the life of a man.
William Shakespeare
Topics: Man

Conceit in weakest bodies works the strongest.
William Shakespeare
Topics: Conceit, Defects, Vanity

Better conquest never canst thou make, than warn thy constant and thy nobler parts against giddy, loose suggestions.
William Shakespeare
Topics: Self-Control

I speak of peace, while covert enmity under the smile of safety wounds the world
William Shakespeare
Topics: Safety

Whose own hard dealings teach them, suspect the thoughts of others.
William Shakespeare

Methought I heard a voice cry Sleep no more,
Macbeth does murder sleep the innocent sleep,
Sleep that knits up the ravelled sleave of care
The death of each day’s life, sore labour’s bath
Balm of hurt minds, great nature’s second course,
Chief nourisher in life’s feast.
William Shakespeare
Topics: Relaxation, Sleep

Had I but served my God with half the zeal
I served my king, he would not in mine age
Have left me naked to mine enemies.
William Shakespeare
Topics: Virtues, Loyalty, Zeal

Fire that is closest kept burns most of all.
William Shakespeare
Topics: Secrecy

To willful men, the injuries that they themselves procure, must be their schoolmasters.
William Shakespeare
Topics: Injury, Experience, Character

Thoughts are but dreams till their effects be tried.
William Shakespeare
Topics: Thought, Dreams

The proverb is something musty.
William Shakespeare
Topics: Proverbs, Proverbial Wisdom

One may smile, and smile, and be a villain.
William Shakespeare
Topics: Smile

Care’s an enemy of life.
William Shakespeare
Topics: Worry

When the moon shone we did not see the candle: so doth the greater glory dim the less.—A substitute shines lightly as a king until a king be by, and then his state empties itself, as doth an inland brook into the main of waters.
William Shakespeare

Better a little chiding than a great deal of heartbreak.
William Shakespeare

Neither a borrower nor a lender be;
For loan oft loses both itself and friend,
And borrowing dulls the edge of husbandry.
This above all: to thine ownself be true.
William Shakespeare
Topics: Self Respect, Communication

Those friends thou hast, and their adoption tried,
Grapple them to thy soul with hoops of steel;
William Shakespeare
Topics: Friendship

In persons grafted in a serious trust, negligence is a crime.
William Shakespeare

Now see that noble and most sovereign reason, like sweet bells jangled, out of time and harsh.
William Shakespeare
Topics: Insanity

Our bodies are our gardens—our wills are our gardeners.
William Shakespeare
Topics: Willpower, The Body, Will, Will Power

Words, words, mere words; no matter from the heart.
William Shakespeare

How poor are they that have not patience? What wound did ever heal but by degrees?
William Shakespeare
Topics: Patience, Resilience

To mourn a mischief that is past and gone is the next way to draw new mischief on.
William Shakespeare
Topics: Misfortunes, Fortune

A good heart is worth gold.
William Shakespeare
Topics: Heart

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: Fate, Thought

O! how much more doth beauty beauteous seem, by that sweet ornament which truth doth give!
William Shakespeare
Topics: Beauty

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
Topics: Feelings, Friendship, Friends

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