An old book titled Shakespeare, symbolizing his monumental contribution to English literature

Considered by many to be the greatest writer in the English language, William Shakespeare had a monumental impact on culture and literature; in fact, many of today’s sayings were originally Shakespeare Quotes! 

Of these quotes—which have been in the English semantic lexicon for centuries now—many are word-for-word sayings used in our modern world, while others have undergone semantic change to better fit the speech patterns of today. In celebration of his birthday (April 23rd), acknowledge his legacy by reading on and learning about how influential his many plays were.

Famous Shakespeare Quotes from Tragedies

Shakespeare’s collection of plays fall under three categories: tragedies, comedies, and history plays (some of which are also tragedies, like Hamlet). Here are some of Shakespeare’s most esteemed tragedies—plays about the terrible events that happen to the protagonist—and the quotes our modern world can attribute to those works.

Othello Quotes in Modern Use

The Tragedy of Othello, the Moor of Venice, one of the most beloved Shakespeare tragedies, depicts the betrayal of military commander Othello by his subordinate, Iago, who manipulates Othello into suspecting his wife of infidelity.

1. “Wear My Heart Upon My Sleeve”

In the first scene of Othello, Iago explains to Roderigo that he hates Othello for promoting an underqualified candidate to be lieutenant instead of himself, a soldier who had stood by the general’s side in every battle. Iago reveals that his true intentions are not to serve Othello, as he had been pretending to, but to fulfill his own interests. In the quote above, he essentially says, “If I showed my true emotions, I may as well wear my heart on my sleeve for birds to peck at.” 

Iago: “…For when my outward action doth demonstrate

The native act and figure of my heart

In compliment extern, ’tis not long after

But I will wear my heart upon my sleeve

For daws to peck at: I am not what I am.”

(Act I, scene i)

This popularized the meaning of “wear my heart upon my sleeve”: to show your true feelings to the world. 

2. “Jealousy: the Green-Eyed Monster”

Shakespeare personifies an emotion in act iii of Othello, when Iago warns Othello not to be jealous of Cassio, the man he had promoted to lieutenant instead of Iago. He likens Jealousy to a green-eyed monster that toys with you, its prey. The irony in this quote is that Iago himself is jealous of Othello for marrying the woman he loves and of Cassio, who has the job he wants.

This is a pivotal moment in the plot. So far in the play, Iago had been scheming, gradually convincing Othello that his wife is being unfaithful to him. In this scene, Cassio had just left the room when Othello entered; Iago points it out to him as suspicious behavior, implying that Cassio is avoiding him because he is having an affair with Desmondona. This eventually leads to Othello planning to kill Desmondona for her alleged unfaithfulness.

Iago: “O, beware, my lord, of jealousy!

It is the green-eyed monster which doth mock

The meat it feeds on.”

(Act III, scene iii)

This description of jealousy, illustrating a terrible monster, is intended to torment Othello into a fearful state. This quote has become a mascot of jealousy and envy; a literary trope, sometimes depicted as a fully green monster.

3. “Neither Here nor There”

In act IV,  Desmondona has a conversation about marriage with Emilia (Iago’s wife, Desmondona’s servant). 

Desmondona:  “…So, get thee gone; good night. Mine eyes do itch;

Doth that bode weeping?”

Emilia: “‘Tis neither here nor there.”

(Act IV, scene iii)

She asks Emilia if it’s okay for her to cry, to which Emelia responds, “‘Tis neither here nor there,”—meaning that it doesn’t matter either way; it isn’t important or relevant.

Macbeth Quotes in Modern Use

The Tragedy of Macbeth is about the physically and psychologically dangerous effects of political power.

1. “The Be-All and the End-All”

By the seventh scene of the first act, Macbeth is contemplating the murder of Duncan, the King of Scotland, so that he himself can be king. 

Macbeth: “If th’ assassination

Could trammel up the consequence, and catch

With his surcease success; that but this blow

Might be the be-all and the end-all—here,

But here, upon this bank and shoal of time,

We’d jump the life to come.”

(Act I, scene vii)

Macbeth is seriously considering murdering the King of Scotland. He’s saying that, if he faces no other consequences from the assasination, he would willingly risk his afterlife (meaning, going to hell) if it means he would be king. The assasination being the “be-all and end’-all” means that it doesn’t become more than what it is; not causing any other issues. This is one of the most used Shakespeare phrases we use today, flipped around to: “End-all, be-all.”

2. “Knock, Knock. Who’s There..?”

Perhaps one of Shakespeare’s greatest accomplishments is his invention of the classic “knock-knock” joke! Well, an early form of it. To open scene 3 of act 2, a drunk porter (a baggage carrier) goes to answer the knocking of a door, pretending he the knocking is on the gates of hell and he is admitting sinners to their punishing afterlife. 

Porter:  “If a man were porter of hell gate, he should have old turning the key.

[Knocking.] Knock, knock, knock. Who’s there, i’ th’ name of Belzebub? Here’s a farmer that hanged himself on the expectation of plenty: come in time; have napkins enow about you; here you’ll sweat for’t. [Knocking.] Knock, knock! Who’s there, i’ th’ other devil’s name? Faith, here’s an equivocator, that could swear in both the scales against either scale, who committed treason enough for God’s sake, yet could not equivocate to heaven: O, come in, equivocator…”

(Act II, scene iii)

The porter’s acting is a joke reflecting Macbeth’s situation—he has just murdered the king, something he has acknowledged will result in him going to hell. The porter’s comedic relief, reflecting the current situation of the main character, is what many believe is the origin of the “knock-knock” joke. He says, “Knock, knock! Who’s there,” then describes a made-up person and their evil actions; today, we instead use this knock-knock format for a call-and-response joke.

Phrases Coined by Shakespeare in Comedies

Not all of Shakespeare’s plays were depressing, dark tales of murder and deception. His 16th century sense of humor shines throughout his comedies, which offer witty puns, whimsical characters, and slapstick comedy.

The Comedy of Errors Quote in Modern Use

The Comedy of Errors, one of Shakespeare’s earlier works, is about two pairs of identical twins, separated at birth, encountering their siblings’ families and communities before knowing about their twin. As a result, several mistaken identity-related incidents occur over the course of this rhyming play, causing a ridiculous strife through all sets of families.

“No Rhyme or Reason”

In The Comedy of Errors, the two sets of twins are: Antipholus of Syracuse & Antipholus of Ephesus and their servants/slaves, Dromio of Syracuse & Dromio of Ephesus. In the second scene of act two, Antipholus of Syracuse encounters his servant, Dromio of Syracuse, out in public. He speaks with him about a previous conversation, which Dromio denies participating in. (In reality, the conversation was between Antipholous of Syracuse and Dromio of Ephesus, his twin’s servant.) 

Dromio (S): “Pray, sir, why am I beaten?”

Antipholus (S): “Dost thou not know?”

Dromio (S): ”Nothing, sir, but that I am beaten.”

Antipholus (S): “Shall I tell you why?”

Dromio (S): “Ay, sir, and wherefore; for they say every why hath a wherefore.”

Antipholus (S): “Why, first,—for flouting me; and then, wherefore,—

For urging it the second time to me.”

Dromio (S): “Was there ever any man thus beaten out of season,

When in the why and the wherefore is neither rhyme nor reason?

Well, sir, I thank you.”

Antipholus (S): “Thank me, sir! for what?”

Dromio (S): “Marry, sir, for this is something you gave me for nothing.”

(Act II, scene ii)

Thinking his servant is being obtuse on purpose, pranking him, Antipholus begins to beat him—Dromio, in response, doesn’t know why he’s being beaten. He asks Antipholus why, who responds that it was because he disobeyed him. Dromio ponders why a man would be beaten for “neither rhyme nor reason”; one of the most popular Shakespeare quotes said today, meaning why someone would be beaten without a logical explanation.

As You Like It Quotes in Modern Use

Shakespeare’s As You Like It is a pastoral comedy—pastoral meaning depicting an idealized lifestyle of a Shepherd in the peaceful, rural countryside. Its protagonist and her friend, Rosalind and Celia, flee their daily life in court, disguised as a man and a poor girl, respectively. The story follows the two of them and the people they meet in the rural forests, falling in love and bickering with one another. 

1. “All the World’s a Stage”

The banished Duke Senior has a camp set up in the forest with his former Lords, and he spends much of Act 2 of As You Like It praising the forest and denouncing the impact humans have on the natural world. Around dinnertime, Orlando (a member of the royal court who has also fled to live in the forest) intrudes on their meal, demanding food and lamenting his situation.

Duke Senior: “Thou seest we are not all alone unhappy.

This wide and universal theatre

Presents more woeful pageants than the scene

Wherein we play in.”

Jaques: “All the world’s a stage,

And all the men and women merely players;

They have their exits and their entrances,

And one man in his time plays many parts,

His acts being seven ages.”

(Act II, scene vii)

Seeing the fiasco with Orlando, Duke Senior comments that his party aren’t the only unhappy ones. Jaques responds with one of the most famous sayings from Shakespeare: “All the world’s a stage, and all the men and women [are] merely players.” 

This break in the fourth wall, acknowledging that they are all actors in a play, is commentary on the nature of life; Jaques likens the different roles people have in society to the roles in a theatrical production and to compare phases of life to acts of a play (infancy being the first, childhood the second, and so on). This quote is famous for its commentary on the nature of life as one long performance, where each individual faces their challenges throughout different roles and acts.

2. “Too Much of A Good Thing”

In the first scene of act four, Orlando approaches Rosalind, who is still disguised as Ganymede, for a “lesson of love”. As she told him to, Orlando addresses Ganymede as Rosalind, the woman he is in love with but doesn’t recognize behind the disguise. After professing declarations of love to Rosalind, she teases him before accepting his love and giving hers in return, suggesting that Celia marry the two of them—and she does.

Orlando: “Then love me, Rosalind.”

Rosalind: “Yes, faith, will I, Fridays and Saturdays and all.”

Orlando: “And wilt thou have me?”

Rosalind: “Ay, and twenty such.”

Orlando: “What sayest thou?”

Rosalind: “Are you not good?”

Orlando: “I hope so.”

Rosalind: “Why then, can one desire too much of a good thing?—Come, sister,

you shall be the priest and marry us.—Give me your hand, Orlando.—What do you say, sister?”

Orlando: “Pray thee, marry us.”

(Act IV, scene i)

A well-known phrase from Shakespeare, “too much of a good thing”, can actually be traced back to the ancient Greeks; Aesop is attributed with saying that it’s possible to have too much of a good thing. As You Like It may’ve popularized the saying, with Rosalind encouraging Orlando to marry her by implying that there cannot be too much of a good thing.

Reading & Writing Practice with Piqosity

These were just a few of the many Shakespeare quotes that are common phrases today, showing just how immense his impact on the English language was. 

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