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Shakespeare

he said it first.

Lines that have been in print for four hundred years, set properly and attributed on the garment. Nothing here is paraphrased, improved, or half-remembered. The citation is part of the design, because the whole appeal is that somebody else said it better.

  1. These violent delights have violent endsThese violent delights have violent ends
  2. We few, we happy few, we band of brothersWe few, we happy few, we band of brothers
  3. Men at some time are masters of their fatesMen at some time are masters of their fates
  4. Nothing will come of nothingNothing will come of nothing
  5. The course of true love never did run smoothThe course of true love never did run smooth
  6. Suit the action to the word, the word to the actionSuit the action to the word, the word to the action
  7. Full of sound and fury, signifying nothingFull of sound and fury, signifying nothing
  8. But soft, what light through yonder window breaksBut soft, what light through yonder window breaks
  9. Stand not upon the order of your goingStand not upon the order of your going
  10. Some rise by sin, and some by virtue fallSome rise by sin, and some by virtue fall
  11. The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our starsThe fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars
  12. Alas, poor Yorick! I knew him, HoratioAlas, poor Yorick! I knew him, Horatio
  13. Love is blindLove is blind
  14. And all the men and women merely playersAnd all the men and women merely players
  15. Assume a virtue, if you have it notAssume a virtue, if you have it not
  16. Cry 'Havoc!' and let slip the dogs of warCry 'Havoc!' and let slip the dogs of war
  17. This was the most unkindest cut of allThis was the most unkindest cut of all
  18. Can one desire too much of a good thingCan one desire too much of a good thing
  19. I am but mad north-north-westI am but mad north-north-west
  20. The rest is silenceThe rest is silence
  21. Conscience does make cowards of us allConscience does make cowards of us all
  22. I will wear my heart upon my sleeveI will wear my heart upon my sleeve
  23. Though this be madness, yet there is method in'tThough this be madness, yet there is method in't
  24. There is a tide in the affairs of menThere is a tide in the affairs of men
  25. What a piece of work is manWhat a piece of work is man
  26. Sweets to the sweetSweets to the sweet
  27. Better a witty fool than a foolish witBetter a witty fool than a foolish wit
  28. The better part of valour is discretionThe better part of valour is discretion
  29. Some are born great, some achieve greatnessSome are born great, some achieve greatness
  30. Though she be but little, she is fierceThough she be but little, she is fierce
  31. I must be cruel only to be kindI must be cruel only to be kind
  32. To be, or not to be, that is the questionTo be, or not to be, that is the question
  33. The milk of human kindnessThe milk of human kindness
  34. Life's but a walking shadowLife's but a walking shadow
  35. O, beware, my lord, of jealousyO, beware, my lord, of jealousy
  36. Fair is foul, and foul is fairFair is foul, and foul is fair
  37. Frailty, thy name is womanFrailty, thy name is woman
  38. Something wicked this way comesSomething wicked this way comes
  39. There are more things in heaven and earthThere are more things in heaven and earth
  40. Cowards die many times before their deathsCowards die many times before their deaths
  41. A horse! a horse! my kingdom for a horseA horse! a horse! my kingdom for a horse
  42. Is this a dagger which I see before meIs this a dagger which I see before me
  43. Lord, what fools these mortals beLord, what fools these mortals be
  44. O brave new worldO brave new world
  45. We are such stuff as dreams are made onWe are such stuff as dreams are made on
  46. The quality of mercy is not strainedThe quality of mercy is not strained
  47. A plague o' both your housesA plague o' both your houses
  48. The play's the thingThe play's the thing
  49. How sharper than a serpent's tooth it is to have a thankless childHow sharper than a serpent's tooth it is to have a thankless child
  50. Uneasy lies the head that wears a crownUneasy lies the head that wears a crown
  51. There's small choice in rotten applesThere's small choice in rotten apples
  52. Et tu, BruteEt tu, Brute
  53. Lay on, MacduffLay on, Macduff
  54. If music be the food of love, play onIf music be the food of love, play on
  55. Misery acquaints a man with strange bedfellowsMisery acquaints a man with strange bedfellows
  56. Tomorrow, and tomorrow, and tomorrowTomorrow, and tomorrow, and tomorrow
  57. Love all, trust a few, do wrong to noneLove all, trust a few, do wrong to none
  58. Naught's had, all's spentNaught's had, all's spent
  59. Screw your courage to the sticking placeScrew your courage to the sticking place
  60. What's in a name? That which we call a roseWhat's in a name? That which we call a rose
  61. Brevity is the soul of witBrevity is the soul of wit
  62. Rich gifts wax poor when givers prove unkindRich gifts wax poor when givers prove unkind
  63. Double, double toil and troubleDouble, double toil and trouble
  64. I am a man more sinned against than sinningI am a man more sinned against than sinning
  65. Give every man thine ear, but few thy voiceGive every man thine ear, but few thy voice
  66. Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your earsFriends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears
  67. The fool doth think he is wiseThe fool doth think he is wise
  68. Now is the winter of our discontentNow is the winter of our discontent
  69. Out, out, brief candleOut, out, brief candle
  70. Out, damned spotOut, damned spot
  71. Get thee to a nunneryGet thee to a nunnery
  72. The time is out of jointThe time is out of joint
  73. What's past is prologueWhat's past is prologue
  74. Something is rotten in the state of DenmarkSomething is rotten in the state of Denmark
  75. Yond Cassius has a lean and hungry lookYond Cassius has a lean and hungry look
  76. Neither a borrower nor a lender beNeither a borrower nor a lender be
  77. Words, words, wordsWords, words, words
  78. The game's afootThe game's afoot
  79. False face must hide what the false heart doth knowFalse face must hide what the false heart doth know
  80. There is nothing either good or bad, but thinking makes it soThere is nothing either good or bad, but thinking makes it so
  81. All that glisters is not goldAll that glisters is not gold
  82. The lady protests too much, methinksThe lady protests too much, methinks
  83. If you prick us, do we not bleedIf you prick us, do we not bleed
  84. Not that I loved Caesar less, but that I loved Rome moreNot that I loved Caesar less, but that I loved Rome more
  85. What's done is doneWhat's done is done
  86. Parting is such sweet sorrowParting is such sweet sorrow
  87. Yet do I fear thy natureYet do I fear thy nature
  88. Beware the ides of MarchBeware the ides of March
  89. For never was a story of more woeFor never was a story of more woe
  90. This above all: to thine own self be trueThis above all: to thine own self be true
  91. The better part of valourThe better part of valour
  92. Once more unto the breach, dear friendsOnce more unto the breach, dear friends
  93. Hell is empty and all the devils are hereHell is empty and all the devils are here
  94. Not a whit, we defy auguryNot a whit, we defy augury
  95. The wheel is come full circleThe wheel is come full circle
  96. O, I am fortune's foolO, I am fortune's fool
  97. The readiness is allThe readiness is all
  98. When sorrows come, they come not single spies, but in battalionsWhen sorrows come, they come not single spies, but in battalions
  99. All the world's a stageAll the world's a stage
  100. Cry 'Havoc!' and let slip the dogs of warCry 'Havoc!' and let slip the dogs of war