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Shakespeare Quotes from Henry IV
I profess not talking: only this, Let each man do his best.— filed under Action
S. *** the blood more stirs To rouse a lion, than to start a hare.— filed under Action
Some smack of age in you, some relish of the saltness of time.— filed under Affliction
Ill-weav'd ambition, how much art thou shrunk! When that this body did contain a spirit, A kingdom for it was too small a bound; But now, two paces of the vilest earth Is room enough.— filed under Ambition
I had rather be a kitten, and cry mew! Than one of these same metre ballad-mongers.— filed under Ballads
No, my good lord: banish Peto, banish Bardolph, banish Poins; but for sweet Jack Falstaff, kind Jack Falstaff, true Jack Falstaff, valiant Jack Falstaff, and therefore more valiant, being as he is, old Jack Falstaff, banish not him thy Harry's company: banish plump Jack and banish all the world.— filed under Banishment
Then get thee gone and dig my grave thyself, And bid the merry bells ring to thine ear That thou art crowned, not that I am dead.— filed under Bells
The dove and very blessed spirit of peace.— filed under Birds-Dove
All furnish'd, all in arms; All plum'd, like estridges that with the wind Baited, like eagles having lately bath'd.— filed under Birds-Falcon
And being fed by us you used us so As that ungentle gull, the cuckoo's bird, Useth the sparrow.— filed under Birds-Humming-Bird
O, he's as tedious As is a tir'd horse, a railing wife; Worse than a smoky house; I had rather live With cheese and garlic in a windmill, far, Than feed on cates, and have him talk to me, In any summer-house in Christendom.— filed under Bores
No, no, he cannot long hold out these pangs; The incessant care and labour of his mind Hath wrought the mure, that should confine it in, So thin that life looks through and will break out.— filed under Cause
O polished perturbation! golden care! That keep'st the ports of slumber open wide To many a watchful night!— filed under Cause
God befriend us, as our cause is just!— filed under Cause
I never in my life Did hear a challenge urg'd more modestly, Unless a brother should a brother dare To gentle exercise and proof of arms.— filed under Challenge
part is vigilance, Blow it or rough or smooth. ScoTT-Fortunes of Nigel. Ch. XXII. S. Against ill chances men are ever merry; But heaviness foreruns the good event.— filed under Chance
I am no proud Jack, like Falstaff; but a Corinthian, a lad of mettle, a good boy.— filed under Character
There's neither honesty, manhood, nor good fellowship in thee.— filed under Character
What a frosty-spirited rogue is this!— filed under Character
In those holy fields. Over whose acres walk'd those blessed feet Which, fourteen hundred years ago, were nail'd For our advantage on the bitter cross.— filed under Christ
I am not in the roll of common men. S.— filed under Confession
For mine own part, I could be well content To entertain the lag-end of my life With quiet hours.— filed under Content
Come, let us take a muster speedily : Doomsday is near; die all, die merrily.— filed under Courage
O, the blood more stirs To rouse a lion than to start a hare!— filed under Courage
I may speak it to my shame, I have a truant been to chivalry.— filed under Cowardice-Cowards
I L. 93. It was great pity, so it was, That villanous saltpetre should be digg'd Out of the bowels of the harmless earth, Which many a good tall fellow had destroy'd So cowardly; and but for these vile guns He would himself have been a soldier.— filed under Cowardice-Cowards
What a slave art thou, to hack thy sword as thou hast done, and then say it was in fight!— filed under Cowardice-Cowards
Out of this nettle, danger, we pluck this flower, safety.— filed under Danger
O, such a day, So fought, so follow'd and so fairly won.— filed under Death
A man can die but once; we owe God a death.— filed under Death
And we shall feed like oxen at a stall, The better cherish'd, still the nearer death.— filed under Death
Dar'st thou die? The sense of death is most in apprehension; And the poor beetle that we tread upon, In corporal sufferance feels a pang as great As when a giant dies. γ. Measure for Measure. Act III. Sc. 1. L. 77. Death, a necessary end, Will come when it will come. Julius Cæsar. Act II. Sc. 2. L. 36. Death, as the Psalmist saith, is certain to ali; all shall die.— filed under Death
What, is the old king dead? As nail in door.— filed under Death
No more of that, Hal, an thou lovest me.— filed under Desire
Past and to come seem best; things present worst.— filed under Discretion
The better part of valour is discretion; in the which better part I have saved my life.— filed under Discretion
This apoplexy is, as I take it, a kind of lethargy, an't please your lordship; a kind of sleeping in the blood, a whoreson tingling.— filed under Dissension
This sickness dcth infect The very life-blood of our enterprise.— filed under Dissension
He hath eaten me out of house and home.— filed under Eating
He was indeed the glass Wherein the noble youth did dress themselves.— filed under Example
For my part, if a lie may do thee grace, I'll gild it with the happiest terms I have.— filed under Falsehood
Lord, Lord, how subject we old men are to this vice of lying!— filed under Falsehood
Lord, Lord, how this world is given to lying! I grant you I was down and out of breath; and so was he: but we rose both at an instant and fought a long hour by Shrewsbury clock.— filed under Falsehood
These lies are like the father that begets them; gross as a mountain, open, palpable.— filed under Falsehood
O God! that one might read the book of fate, And see the revolutions of the times Make mountains level, and the continent Weary of solid firmness, melt itself Into the sea! Sc.— filed under Fate
There is not such a word Spoke of in Scotland as this term of fear. Y.— filed under Fear
Thou tremblest; and the whiteness in thy cheek Is apter than thy tongue to tell thy errand.— filed under Fear
Camomile. Anthemis nobilis. For though the camomile, the more it is trodden on the faster it grows.— filed under Flowers-Camomile
Well, thus we play the fools with the time, and the spirits of the wise sit in the clouds and mock us.— filed under Folly
Will Fortune never come with both hands full, But write her fair words still in foulest letters? She either gives a stomach, and no food; Such are the poor, in health; or else a feast, And takes away the stomach; such are the rich, That have abundance, and enjoy it not.— filed under Fortune
Call you that backing of your friends? A plague upon such backing! give me them that will face me.— filed under Friendship
Out upon this half-fac'd fellowship!— filed under Friendship
How quickly nature falls into revolt When gold becomes her object! For this the foolish over-careful fathers Have broke their sleep with thoughts, their brains with care, Their bones with industry: For this they have engrossed and pil'd up The canker'd heaps of strange-achieved gold; For this they have been thoughtful to invest Their sons with arts and martial exercises.— filed under Gold
Greatness knows itself.— filed under Greatness
How ill white hairs become a fool and jester !— filed under Hair
For now I am in a holiday humour. S. As You Like It. Act 4. Sc. 1. L. 69. If all the year were playing holidays, To sport would be as tedious as to work.— filed under Holidays
Methinks it were an easy leap, To pluck bright honour from the pale-fac'd moon.— filed under Honor
Thou art a fellow of a good respect; Thy life hath had some smatch of honour in it. Julius Cæsar. Act V. Sc. 5. L. 45. Well, 'tis no matter; honour pricks me on. Yea, but how if honour prick me off, when I come on? how then? Can honour set to a leg? no: or an arm? no: or take away the grief of a wound? no: Honour hath no skill in surgery, then? no. What is honour? a word. What is in that word honour? What is that honour? air. A trim reckoning! Who hath it? he that died o' Wednesday. Doth he feel it? no. Doth he hear it? no. 'Tis insensible, then. Yea, to the dead. But will it not live with the living? no. Why? detraction will not suffer it. Therefore, I'll none of it. Honour is a mere scutcheon; and so ends my catechism.— filed under Honor
Ridiculous. Now I perceive the devil understands Welsh; And 'tis no marvel he is so humorous.— filed under Humor
Seven Times Two. I am on fire To hear this rich reprisal is so nigh And yet not ours.— filed under Impatience
He hath eaten me out of house and home.— filed under Ingratitude
Instinct is a great matter; I was a coward on instinct.— filed under Instinct
O monstrous! but one half-penny-worth of bread to this intolerable deal of sack!— filed under Invention
How ill white hairs become a fool and jester! S.— filed under Jesting
By my troth I kiss thee with a most constant heart.— filed under Kisses
I understand thy kisses, and thou mine, And that's a feeling disputation.— filed under Kisses
Why, Hal, 'tis my vocation. Hal: 'tis no sin for a man to labour in his vocation.— filed under Language
O, you shall see him laugh till his face be like a wet cloak ill laid up.— filed under Laughter
The brain of this foolish-compounded clay, man, is not able to invent anything that tends to laughter, more than I invent or is invented on me. C.— filed under Laughter
O 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.— filed under Life
Hostess, clap to the doors; watch to-night, pray to-morrow. Gallants, lads, boys, hearts of gold, all the titles of good fellowship come to you! What, shall we be merry? Shall we have a play extempore?— filed under Merriment
But, by the Lord, lads, I am glad you have the money.— filed under Money
As full of spirit as the month of May.— filed under Months-May
Diseased Nature oftentimes breaks forth In strange eruptions.— filed under Nature
There's villainous news abroad.— filed under News
Yet the first bringer of unwelcome news Hath but a losing office; and his tongue Sounds ever after as a sullen bell, Remember'd tolling a departed friend.— filed under News
I'll be damned for never a king's son in Christendom.— filed under Oaths
P. 576. 'Fore God, you have here a goodly dwelling and a rich.— filed under Occupations-Alchemy
When we mean to build, We first survey the plot, then draw the model; And when we see the figure of the house, Then must we rate the cost of the erection.— filed under Occupations-Alchemy
OCCUPATIONS-JEWELER. 433 Shall I not take mine ease in mine inn?— filed under Occupations-Hatters
But, I prithee, sweet wag, shall there be gallows standing in England when thou art king? and resolution thus fobbed as it is with the rusty curb of old father antic the law?— filed under Occupations-Law
In poison there is physic; and these news, Having been well, that would have made me sick; Being sick, have in some measure made me well.— filed under Occupations-Medicine
I'll give thrice so much land To any well-deserving friend; But in the way of bargain, mark ye me, I'll cavil on the ninth part of a hair.— filed under Occupations-Mercantile
Honourable Colonel George Villiers. L. 5. And his chin new reap'd, Show'd like a stubble-land at harvest-home.— filed under Occupations-Tonsorial
A peace is of the nature of a conquest; For then both parties nobly are subdued, And neither party loser.— filed under Peace
I am as poor as Job, my lord, but not so patient.— filed under Poverty
There is a history in all men's lives, Figuring the nature of the times deceas'd, The which observed, a man may prophesy With a near aim, of the main chance of things As yet not come to life, which in their seeds And weak beginnings lie intreasured.— filed under Proverbs
God save the mark!— filed under Proverbs
He will give the devil his due.— filed under Proverbs
Ill wind which blows no man to good.— filed under Proverbs
The honey of Hybla.— filed under Iii
But since the affairs of men rest still incertain, Let's reason with the worst that may befall. Julius Cæsar. Act V. Sc. 1. L. 96. Give you a reason on compulsion! if reasons were as plentiful as blackberries, I would give no man a reason upon compulsion, I.— filed under Reason
Rebellion to tyrants is obedience to God. Inscription on a Cannon near which the ashes of President John Bradshaw were lodged, on the top of hill near Martha Bay in Jamaica. Rebellion in this land shall lose his sway, Meeting the check of such another day.— filed under Rebellion
Tailor. And like bright metal on a sullen ground, My reformation, glittering o'er my fault, Shall show more goodly and attract more eyes Than that which hath no foil to set it off.— filed under Reformation
I could have better spar'd a better man.— filed under Regret
Well, I'll repent, and that suddenly, while I am in some liking; I shall be out of heart shortly, and then I shall have no strength to repent.— filed under Repose
Chide him for faults, and do it reverently, When you perceive his blood inclined to mirth.— filed under Reproof
I would to God thou and I knew where a commodity of good names were to be bought.— filed under Resignation
Uneasy lies the head that wears a crown.— filed under Royalty
Rumour doth double, like the voice and echo, The numbers of the fear'd.— filed under Rumor
Rumour is a pipe Blown by surmises, jealousies, conjectures, And of so easy and so plain a stop That the blunt monster with uncounted heads, The still-discordant wavering multitude, Can play upon it.— filed under Rumor
Yet be sad, good brothers, * * * * * * Sorrow so royally in you appears, That I will deeply put the fashion on.— filed under Sadness
Wilful Sin. Commit The oldest sins the newest kind of ways?— filed under Sin
On your eyelids crown the god of sleep, Charming your blood with pleasing heaviness, Making such difference 'twixt wake and sleep As is the difference betwixt day and night The hour before the heavenly-harness'd team Begins his golden progress in the east.— filed under Sleep
O polish'd perturbation! golden care! That keep'st the ports of slumber open wide To many a watchful night! sleep with it now! Yet not so sound and half so deeply sweet As he whose brow with homely biggen bound Snores out the watch of night.— filed under Sleep
O sleep, O gentle sleep, Nature's soft nurse, how have I frighted thee, That thou no more wilt weigh my eyelids down And steep my senses in forgetfulness?— filed under Sleep
и. Sleep, that sometimes shuts up sorrow's eye, Steal me awhile from mine own company. Midsummer-Night's Dream. Act III. Sc. 2. L. 435. This sleep is sound indeed, this is a sleep That from this golden rigol hath divorc'd So many English kings.— filed under Sleep
Why rather, sleep, liest thou in smoky cribs, Upon uneasy pallets stretching thee And hushed with buzzing night-flies to thy slumber, Than in the perfum'd chambers of the great, Under the canopies of costly state, And lull'd with sound of sweetest melody?— filed under Sleep
I can call spirits from the vasty deep. Why, so can I, or so can any man; But will they come when you do call for them?— filed under Spirits
Two stars keep not their motion in one sphere.— filed under Stars
The heavenly-harness'd team Begins his golden progress in the east.— filed under Sunrise
Make less thy body hence, and more thy grace; Leave gormandizing.— filed under Temptation
How quickly nature falls into revolt When gold becomes her object!— filed under Temptation
A plague upon it when thieves cannot be true one to another!— filed under Thieving
The incessant care and labour of his mind Hath wrought the mure that should confine it in So thin that life looks through and will break out.— filed under Thought
Time, that takes survey of all the world, Must have a stop.— filed under Time
I did pluck allegiance from men's hearts, Loud shouts and salutations from their mouths, Even in the presence of the crowned king.— filed under Treason
Some guard these traitors to the block of death; Treason's true bed and yielder up of breath.— filed under Treason
Treason is but trusted like the fox Who, ne'er so tame, so cherish'd and locked up, Will have a wild trick of his ancestors.— filed under Treason
You may trust him in the dark. Roman Proverb Cited by Cicero. I well believe Thou wilt not utter what thou dost not know; And so far will I trust thee.— filed under Trust
Mark now, how a plain tale shall put you down.— filed under Truth
Tell truth and shame the devil. If thou have power to raise him, bring him hither, And I'll be sworn I have power to shame him hence.— filed under Truth
The hour before the heavenly-harness'd team Begins his golden progress in the east.— filed under Tyranny
I came, saw, and overcame.— filed under Victory
Then with the losers let it sympathize; For nothing can seem foul to those that win.— filed under Victory
Our battle is more full of names than yours, Our men more perfect in the use of arms, Our armour all as strong, our cause the best; Then reason will our hearts should be as good.— filed under War
The arms are fair, When the intent of bearing them is just.— filed under War
The fire-eyed maid of smoky war All hot and bleeding will we offer them. и.— filed under War
Tut, tut; good enough to toss; food for powder, food for powder; they'll fill a pit as well as better.— filed under War
We must have bloody noses and crack'd crowns, And pass them current too. God's me, my horse!— filed under War
Wind and the Sun. Take a straw and throw it up into the air, you may see by that which way the wind is. ข. JOHN SELDEN-Table Talk. Libels. What wind blew you hither, Pistol? Not the ill wind which blows no man to good.— filed under Wind
Thy wish was father, Harry, to that thought: I stay too long by thee, I weary thee.— filed under Wishes
I am not only witty in myself, but the cause that wit is in other men.— filed under Wit
And is not my hostess of the tavern a most sweet wench? As the honey of Hybla, my old lad of the castle.— filed under Woman