Timeless William Shakespeare Quotes That Still Inspire Today
Last Updated: 20 Mar 2025
William Shakespeare is one of the greatest writers of the world, whose words still influence people's lives. His thoughts deeply express life, love, friendship, time, and human nature. His quotes are not just words but a treasure of life's truth and wisdom. Every word says something deep, which gives us the power to see and understand life from a new perspective. Some important quotes are given here that will teach you and make your thoughts deeper.
Famous William Shakespeare Quotation with Poster
“A fool thinks himself to be wise, but a wise man knows himself to be a fool.”
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“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.”
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“And this, our life, exempt from public haunt, finds tongues in trees, books in the running brooks, sermons in stones, and good in everything.”
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“As soon go kindle fire with snow, as seek to quench the fire of love with words.”
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“Better three hours too soon than a minute too late.”
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“But men are men; the best sometimes forget.”
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“Cowards die many times before their deaths; the valiant never taste of death but once.”
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“Doubt thou the stars are fire, Doubt that the sun doth move. Doubt truth to be a liar, But never doubt I love.”
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“Faith, there hath been many great men that have flattered the people who ne'er loved them.”
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“Fishes live in the sea, as men do a-land; the great ones eat up the little ones.”
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“God has given you one face, and you make yourself another.”
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“Good night, good night! Parting is such sweet sorrow, that I shall say good night till it be morrow.”
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“Heat not a furnace for your foe so hot that it do singe yourself.”
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“Hell is empty and all the devils are here.”
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“How far that little candle throws its beams! So shines a good deed in a naughty world.”
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“If music be the food of love, play on.”
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“If you prick us do we not bleed? If you tickle us do we not laugh? If you poison us do we not die? And if you wrong us shall we not revenge?”
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“Ignorance is the curse of God; knowledge is the wing wherewith we fly to heaven.”
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“It is a wise father that knows his own child.”
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“It is not in the stars to hold our destiny but in ourselves.”
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“Let me embrace thee, sour adversity, for wise men say it is the wisest course.”
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“Love all, trust a few, do wrong to none.”
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“Love is a smoke made with the fume of sighs.”
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“Love is not love that alters when it alteration finds.”
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“Love looks not with the eyes, but with the mind, And therefore is winged Cupid painted blind.”
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“Now is the winter of our discontent.”
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“O! for a muse of fire, that would ascend the brightest heaven of invention.”
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“One touch of nature makes the whole world kin.”
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“Our doubts are traitors and make us lose the good we oft might win by fearing to attempt.”
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“Our peace shall stand as firm as rocky mountains.”
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“Some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon them.”
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“Some rise by sin, and some by virtue fall.”
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“Suspicion always haunts the guilty mind.”
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“Talking isn't doing. It is a kind of good deed to say well; and yet words are not deeds.”
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“The course of true love never did run smooth.”
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“The devil can cite Scripture for his purpose.”
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“The evil that men do lives after them; the good is oft interred with their bones.”
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“The robbed that smiles, steals something from the thief.”
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“There is a tide in the affairs of men, Which taken at the flood, leads on to fortune. Omitted, all the voyage of their life is bound in shallows and in miseries. On such a full sea are we now afloat. And we must take the current when it serves, or lose our ventures.”
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“There is nothing either good or bad but thinking makes it so.”
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“There's no art to find the mind's construction in the face.”
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“They do not love that do not show their love.”
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“This life, which had been the tomb of his virtue and of his honour, is 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.”
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“Though she be but little, she is fierce.”
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“Time and the hour run through the roughest day.”
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“Tis not enough to help the feeble up, but to support them after.”
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“To be, or not to be, that is the question.”
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“To do a great right do a little wrong.”
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“To thine own self be true, and it must follow, as the night the day, thou canst not then be false to any man.”
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“Uneasy lies the head that wears a crown.”
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“Virtue is bold, and goodness never fearful.”
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“We know what we are, but know not what we may be.”
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“What's in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet.”
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“When sorrows come, they come not single spies, but in battalions.”
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“With mirth and laughter let old wrinkles come.”
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These quotes of Shakespeare are not just meant to be read but to be adopted in life. His every word gives us knowledge of new meaning and direction in life. Be it love or friendship, success or challenge, an important message of every situation is hidden in these quotes. These words inspire us to think and make life better. Which quote influenced you the most? Share it with your friends too and adopt a new vision by giving place to these words in your life.