William Shakespeare Quotes
The Bard of Avon — playwright and poet whose works, from Hamlet to the Sonnets, shaped the English language itself. Shakespeare has a line for every human situation, and most of our everyday sayings besides. Below are 30 of the most loved William Shakespeare quotes, chosen from across their works and letters. Tap Copy on any quote to save or share it.
Wisely and slow; they stumble that run fast.
Speak low, if you speak love.
Love is a smoke made with the fume of sighs.
Who ever loved that loved not at first sight?
Cowards die many times before their deaths; the valiant never taste of death but once.
Doubt thou the stars are fire; doubt that the sun doth move; doubt truth to be a liar; but never doubt I love.
Suit the action to the word, the word to the action.
Love all, trust a few, do wrong to none.
If music be the food of love, play on.
The fool doth think he is wise, but the wise man knows himself to be a fool.
Hell is empty and all the devils are here.
Be not afraid of greatness. Some are born great, some achieve greatness, and others have greatness thrust upon them.
When I saw you I fell in love, and you smiled because you knew.
This above all: to thine own self be true.
The course of true love never did run smooth.
Let me not to the marriage of true minds admit impediments. Love is not love which alters when it alteration finds.
It is not in the stars to hold our destiny but in ourselves.
My words fly up, my thoughts remain below.
A friend is one that knows you as you are, understands where you have been, accepts what you have become.
Love looks not with the eyes, but with the mind, and therefore is winged Cupid painted blind.
All the world's a stage, and all the men and women merely players.
Brevity is the soul of wit.
We know what we are, but know not what we may be.
Shall I compare thee to a summer's day? Thou art more lovely and more temperate.
What's in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet.
Our doubts are traitors and make us lose the good we oft might win by fearing to attempt.
The earth has music for those who listen.
Love sought is good, but given unsought is better.
Love is not love which alters when it alteration finds.
To be or not to be, that is the question.