A Dictionary of Shakespearian Quotations

Every human feeling, answered by Shakespeare: an 1892 dictionary that files the Bard's best lines under the passions they express — from Ambition to Woe.

I

45 subjects in this part of Shakespearian Quotations.

Idolatry

Idolatry: 'Tis mad idolatry, That makes the service greater than the god.

Illusion

Illusion: Our revels now are ended: these our actors, As I foretold you, were all spirits, and Are melted into air, into thin air: And like…

Imagination

Imagination: Such tricks hath strong imagination; That if it would but apprehend some joy, It comprehends some bringer of that joy; Or, in…

Immaculate

Immaculate: Chaste and immaculate in very thought. H. VI. PT. I. v.

Immoral Reading

Immoral Reading: Lascivious metres, to whose venom sound The open ear of youth doth always listen.

Impatience Suppressed

Impatience Suppressed: Bondage is hoarse, and may not speak aloud; Else would I tear the cave where Echo lies, And make her airy tongue…

Impetuosity

Impetuosity: The ocean, overpeering of his list, Eats not the flats with more impetuous haste.

Impolicy

Impolicy: Neglecting an attempt of ease and gain, To wake, and wage, a danger profitless.

Impossibilities

Impossibilities: Then let the pebbles on the hungry beach Fillip the stars; then let the mutinous winds Strike the proud cedars 'gainst the…

Imprisonment

Imprisonment: By my christendom, So I were out of prison, and kept sheep, I should be merry as the day is long.

Improvidence

Improvidence: 'Tis not unknown to you, Antonio, How much I have disabled mine estate, By something showing a more swelling port Than my…

Impudence

Impudence: What! canst thou say all this, and never blush?

Imputation

Imputation: To vouch this, is no proof; Without more certain and more overt test, Than these thin habits and poor likelihoods Of modern…

Inclination

Inclination: To business that we love, we rise betimes, And go to it with delight.

Inconstancy

Inconstancy: O heaven! were man But constant, he were perfect; that one error Fills him with faults.

Incontinence

Incontinence: Such an act, That blurs the grace and blush of modesty: Calls virtue hypocrite: takes off the rose From the fair forehead of…

Incorrigible

Incorrigible: Double and treble admonition, and still forfeit in the same kind. This would make mercy swear and play the tyrant.

Independence

Independence: 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…

Indignation

Indignation: His indignation derives itself out of a very competent injury.

Infamy

Infamy: Wine lov'd I deeply; dice dearly; and in woman, out paramour'd the Turk. False of heart, light of ear, bloody of hand; hog in…

Infant Ruler

Infant Ruler: Woe to that land that's govern'd by a child! R. III. ii.

Infatuation

Infatuation: When we in our viciousness grow hard, (0, misery on't!) the wise gods seel our eyes; In our own filth drop our clear…

Infection

Infection: And one infect another Against the wind a mile.

Infirmity

Infirmity: Infirmity doth still neglect all office, Whereto our health is bound; we are not ourselves, When nature, being oppress'd…

Inflexibility

Inflexibility: You may as well go stand upon the beech, And bid the main flood bate his usual height; You may as well use question with the…

Influence

Influence: So our leader's led, And we are women's men.

Ingratitude

Ingratitude: Monster ingratitude! The ingratitude of this Seleucus does Even make me wild.

Inhumanity

Inhumanity: I am sorry for thee; thou art come to answer A stony adversary, an inhuman wretch Uncapable of pity, void and empty From any…

Injured Man

Injured Man: He hath wronged me; indeed, he hath; - at a word, he hath;-believe me; -Robert Shallow, esquire, saith he is wrong'd.

Inn

Inn: What, will you make a younker of me? shall I not take mine ease in mine inn, but I shall have my pocket picked.

Innocence

Innocence: The trust I have is in mine innocence. H. IV. PT. II. iv. 4. Unstained thoughts do seldom dream of evil. Poems. Pure innocence…

Innovation

Innovation: Thus we debase The nature of our seats, and make the rabble Call our cares, fears; which will in time break ope The locks o'…

Insanity

Insanity: We are not ourselves, when nature, being oppress'd,

Insecurity

Insecurity: We have scotch'd the snake, not kill'd it; She'll close, and be herself; whilst our poor malice Remains in danger of her former…

Insinuation

Insinuation: Thou cried'st, Indeed? And didst contract and purse thy brow together, As if thou had'st then shut up in thy brain

Insolence

Insolence: Ill deeds are doubled with an evil word.

Instrument

Instrument: How poor an instrument

Intemperance

Intemperance: Boundless intemperance In nature is a tyranny; it hath been The untimely emptying of the happy throne,

Intentions, Good, Defeated

Intentions, Good, Defeated: We are not the first, Who, with best meaning, have incurr'd the worst

Intents And Acts

Intents And Acts: His act did not o'ertake his bad intent; And must be buried but as an intent, That perish'd by the way: thoughts are no…

Interruption, Violent

Interruption, Violent: And, like the tyrannous breathing of the north, Shakes all our buds from growing.

Intruder

Intruder: What! dares the slave Come hither, cover'd with an antic face, To fleer and scorn at our solemnity?

Invasion

Invasion: There comes a power Into this scatter'd kingdom; who already, Wise in our negligence, have secret feet In some of our best ports…

Invitation

Invitation: If your love do not persuade you to come, let not my letter.

Invocation

Invocation: Mv father's wit, and my mother's tongue, assist me!

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