William Shakespeare (1564-1616)

William Shakespeare was an English playwright, poet and actor. He is widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's pre-eminent dramatist. He is often called England's national poet and the "Bard of Avon" or simply "the Bard". His extant works, including collaborations, consist of some 39 plays, 154 sonnets, 3 long narrative poems and a few other verses, some of uncertain authorship. His plays have been translated into every major living language and are performed more often than those of any other playwright. Shakespeare remains arguably the most influential writer in the English language, and his works continue to be studied and reinterpreted.

Quotes

I had rather have a fool make me merry, than experience make me sad.
I would there were no age between sixteen and three-and-twenty, or that youth would sleep out the rest, for there is nothing in the between but getting wenches with child, wronging the ancientry, stealing, fighting.
To thine own self be true -; And it must follow as the night the day; Thou canst not be false to any man
All's well that ends well....
There is nothing either good or bad, but thinking makes it so.
When my love swears that she is made of truth, I do believe her, though I know she lies.
Misery acquaints a man with strange bedfellows.
Life is 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 tall Tale, Told by an Idiot, full of Sound and Fury, Signifying nothing."
Not Hercules could have knock'd out his brains, for he had none.
Love sought is good, but giv'n unsought is better.
I would fain die a dry death.
Now would I give a thousand furlongs of sea for an acre of barren ground.
What seest thou else
In the dark backward and abysm of time?
I, thus neglecting worldly ends, all dedicated
To closeness and the bettering of my mind.
Like one
Who having into truth, by telling of it,
Made such a sinner of his memory,
To credit his own lie.
My library
Was dukedom large enough.
Knowing I lov'd my books, he furnish'd me
From mine own library with volumes that
I prize above my dukedom.

Books
From the still-vexed Bermoothes.
I will be correspondent to command, And do my spiriting gently.
Fill all thy bones with aches.

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