"By Words, the Mind is Winged!"

The picture above is of the William Shakespeare rose, named for the great Bard of Avon. Tonight, I have posted quotes from different Shakespeare plays that have made it into our everyday speech today. I am sure that you will recognize at least one or two of these quotes in your own daily speech.

Two quotes come to mind that would explain the importance of words.

He gave man speech, and speech created thought, which is the measure of the universe. Percy Bysshe Shelley, Prometheus Unbound II.iv.

By words the mind is winged. Aristophanes.

William Shakespeare has given us a great legacy with the words of his poetry and his plays; and,by these words, our mind takes wing.


"This above all: to thine own self be true" Hamlet (Act I, Sc. III).

“The lady doth protest too much, methinks.” Hamlet (Act III, Sc. II).

"The play's the thing wherein I'll catch the conscience of the king.” Hamlet (Act II, Scene II).

"Brevity is the soul of wit.” Hamlet (Act II, Scene II).

"When sorrows come, they come not single spies, but in battalions". Hamlet (Act IV, Scene V).

"But, for my own part, it was Greek to me.” Julius Caesar (Act I, Scene II).

"Cowards die many times before their deaths; the valiant never taste of death but once.” Julius Caesar (Act II, Scene II).

"Beware the ides of March". Julius Caesar (Act I, Scene II).

"How sharper than a serpent's tooth it is to have a thankless child!" King Lear (Act I, Scene IV).

"Nothing will come of nothing." King Lear (Act I, Scene I).

"I am a man more sinned against than sinning" King Lear (Act III, Scene II).

"Yet do I fear thy nature; it is too full o' the milk of human kindness." Macbeth (Act I, Scene V).

"Out, damned spot! Out, I say!" Macbeth (Act V, Scene I).

"Out, out, brief candle! Life's 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." Macbeth (Act V, Scene V).

"I will wear my heart upon my sleeve for daws to peck at". Othello (Act I, Scene I).

"It is the green-eyed monster which doth mock" Othello (Act III)

"Can one desire too much of a good thing?" As You Like It (Act IV, Scene I).

"True is it that we have seen better days" As You Like It (Act II, Scene VII).

"Why, then the world 's mine oyster" The Merry Wives of Windsor (Act II, Scene II).

"This is the short and the long of it". Merry Wives of Windsor (Act II, Scene II).

"As good luck would have it.” Merry Wives of Windsor (Act III, Scene V).

"I'll not budge an inch". Taming of the Shrew (Induction, Scene I)

Who wooed in haste, and means to wed at leisure. The Taming of the Shrew (Act III. Scene 2).

“Misery acquaints a man with strange bedfellows.” The Tempest. (Act II. Scene. 2.)

"Be not afraid of greatness: some are born great, some achieve greatness and some have greatness thrust upon them.” Twelfth Night (Act II, Scene V).

“If music be the food of love, play on.” Twelfth Night (Act I. Scene 1.)

“This is very midsummer madness.” Twelfth Night (Act III. Scene 4.)

“Out of the jaws of death.” Twelfth Night. (Act III. Scene 4.)

"He will give the devil his due.” Henry IV, Part I (Act I, Scene II).

"The better part of valour is discretion.” Henry IV, Part I (Act V, Scene IV)

"He hath eaten me out of house and home.” Henry IV Part II (Act II, Scene I).

"Uneasy lies the head that wears a crown.” Henry IV, Part II (Act III, Scene I).

"A man can die but once.” Henry IV, Part II (Act III, Scene II).

“We few, we happy few, we band of brothers.” King Henry V (Act IV. Scene 3.)

“Once more unto the breach, dear friends, once more.” King Henry V (Act III. Scene 1.)

"The first thing we do, let's kill all the lawyers". King Henry VI (Act IV, Scene II)

“The smallest worm will turn, being trodden on.” King Henry VI, Part III (Act II Scene 2.)

"The king's name is a tower of strength.” Richard III (Act V, Scene III).

"Off with his head!" Richard III (Act III, Scene IV).

"So wise so young, they say, do never live long.” Richard III (Act III, Scene I).

"Now is the winter of our discontent.” Richard III (Act I, Scene I).

"A horse! A horse! My kingdom for a horse!" Richard III (Act V, Scene IV).