Hamlet Quotattions

Tis bitter cold /and I am sick at heart

Francisco to Barnardo: during a changing of guard between the two men. Francisco's comment highlights not only his literal sickness, but also his mourning of the death of Old Hamlet, which technically should not be affecting him as he is supposed to be de

Not a mouse stirring

Francisco to Barnardo: during the changing of guard, telling him that nothing eventful occurred during his time at watch. In an atmosphere that is already a little uneasy as the guards are shown to be nervous and on edge, this comment does nothing to ease

Something is rotten in the state of Denmark

Marcellus to Horatio: as the two men follow Hamlet and the ghost to hear their conversation. Superficially, the quote could mean that something is not right in the general area of Denmark, without any specific accusations. However, Denmark is often used i

*All that lives must die/Passing through nature to eternity

*Gertrude to Hamlet:In the court at Elsinore, we first see Hamlet as the distraught son mourning his father's death. His mother Queen Gertrude on the other hand is happily married to his uncle Claudius, the new king of Denmark. Gertrude criticizes her son

*Frailty, thy name is woman

*Hamlet soliloquy: after speaking with his mother and Claudius. In the soliloquy, Hamlet is associating frailty with women, because of Gertrude's obviously changing loyalties as she so quickly moves on from Old Hamlet's death, marrying Claudius only a mon

*Foul deeds will rise/Though all the earth o'erwhelm them, to men's eyes

*Hamlet soliloquy: in a short soliloquy after Barnardo, Horatio, and Marcellus leave him, after the incident with his father's ghost. He is saying that Claudius' crime will become known, even though Claudius is using all his power to hide the murder of Ol

*Neither a borrower nor a lender be/For loan oft loses both itself and friend

*Polonius to Laertes: on how to act giving him seemingly sound advice; however, in reality Polonius does not trust Laertes to follow any of it. Actually, later in the play, Polonius tasks Reynaldo to spy on Laertes and also spread little rumors about Laer

To thine own self be true/And it must follow, as the night the day, thou canst not then be false to any man

Polonious to Laertes: eagerly awaits boarding the boat to Paris where he will continues his education, yet Polonius holds him there with a lengthy monologue filled with most likely unwanted advice. Among the most famous of Shakespeare's lines, this is the

But virtue, as it never will be moved, thought lewdness court it in a shape of heaven, So lust, thought to a radiant angel linked, Will sate itself in a celestial bed/And prey on garbage

Ghost to Hamlet: n Act 1 scene 5, the ghost of old Hamlet is speaking to young Hamlet. Both Hamlet and the ghost of his father dwell over Gertrude's, the Queen's, virtue. It's not clear as to what specific action they are referring to, however, because th

The time is out of joint, O cursed spite/That ever I was born to set it right

Hamlet to Horatio and Marcellus: In Act 1 scene 5, Hamlet is speaking to Horatio and Marcellus after he has just spoken with the ghost, his deceased father, and learned that his father was murdered by his Uncle Claudius. Instead of Hamlet's father being k

Do not as some ungracious pastors do,/show me the steep and thorny way to heaven, Whiles, like a puffed and reckless libertine,/Himself the primrose path of dalliance treads and rects not his own ride

Ophelia to Laertes: In act 1 scene 3, Ophelia is speaking to her brother, Laertes. He is just about to leave for France, but has paused to give her advice before leaving. He warns her against taking Hamlet's interest in her too seriously, because if she d

I do not set my life at a pin's fee;/And for my soul, what can it do to that, Being a thing immortal as itself

Hamlet to Horatio and Marcellus: In act 1 scene 4, Hamlet is speaking to Horatio and Marcellus when he is trying to follow the ghost as it beckons him, and Horatio and Marcellus are attempting to convince him not to go, because it could be dangerous. Haml

Your bait of falsehood takes this carp of truth

Polonious to Reynaldo: In act 2 scene 1, Polonius uses this metaphor when indirectly instructing his servant, Reynaldo, to spy on his son, Laertes. By making up lies, or "bait," about Laertes, Polonius hopes that Reynaldo will catch a "carp," which will b

Though this be madness, yet there is method in't

Polonious Aside: In act 2 scene 2, Polonius is speaking about Hamlet in an aside, as Hamlet is feigning madness. While spurting "insane" words, he succeeds in slipping in insults toward Polonius. Polonius is making it clear that he does not believe Hamlet

For there is nothing either good or bad but thinking makes it so

Hamlet to Rosencrantz: In act 2 scene 2, Hamlet is speaking to Rosencrantz, as Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, former school friends of Hamlet, have just arrived at his home. Rosencrantz is wondering why Hamlet refers to Denmark as a prison; he believes tha

*For the very substance of the ambitious is merely the shadow of a dream

*Rosencrantz to Hamlet: In act 2 scene 2, Rosencrantz is speaking to Hamlet, after Hamlet has made plain that he sees Denmark as a horrid prison. Rosencrantz suggests that the reason Denmark is his prison is that the borders of the state are "too narrow

A dream itself is but a shadow

Hamlet to Rosencrantz and Guildenstern: Hamlet is speaking to Rosencrantz and Guildenstern after being reunited with them and welcoming them to Elsinore. This quote is in response to Guildenstern's quote #16. Dreams recur in Hamlet. In his "to be or not t

*The play's the thing wherein I'll catch the conscience of the king

*Hamlet Soliloquy: In Hamlet's soliloquy that closes Act II scene 2, he makes two important points: first, that the spirit which appeared to him may be a devil, and second, that he can prove the spirit's veracity based upon the king's reaction to his play

*To be or not to be, that is the question

*Hamlet soliloquy: This quote in Hamlet's soliloquy of Act II scene 2 questions the veracity of life after death. He has two choices: to endure fortune and its blows, accepting Claudius's actions and leaving him to his own fate, or to rise against fortune

Madness in great ones must not unwatched go

Claudius to Polonious: In this scene 1 of Act III, Claudius is speaking warily to Polonius. He is scared to think of what Hamlet is capable of; and madness in a prince represents a huge threat to his authority, because madness in a prince is madness in a

But the dread of something after death/the undiscovered country from whose bourn? no traveler returns, puzzles the will/ and makes us bear those ills we have/Than fly to others we know not of

Hamlet Soliloquy: Hamlet in Act 3 scene 1 in his soliloquy describes the fear of what comes after death as the downside to commiting suicide. Shakespeare wrote this to describe the thoughts that now England is now protestant and people do not know what co

Then there's hope a great man's memory may outlive his life half a year

Hamlet to Ophelia: Hamlet is speaking before the play begins to Ophelia about his mother remarrying so quickly. He sarcastically remarks that a great leader like his father should be remembered for at least six months. In 1600s, if someone died, the close

The lady doth protest too much

Gertrude to Hamlet: During the play within the play, it is evident how internal tensions are arising in Claudius as his guilt and conscience began to uncover from their hiding place. As the Player Queen promises her love to the Player King, Gertrude's gui

You do surely bar the door upon your own liberty, if you deny your grief's to your friends

Rosencrantz to Hamlet: In Rosencrantz's words to Hamlet there is a train of disloyalty. Once again the theme of appearance versus reality is shown through this disloyalty. Beginning with Hamlet, he is showing difficulty in trusting his "friend" Rosencrant

My crown, mine own ambition, and my queen/May one be pardoned and retain the offense?

Claudius alone in prayer: Claudius' soliloquy stems from his gloomy introspection of his morality and actions. Having renewed his memory and guilt of his murder through the ploy Hamlet sets in the play, Claudius battles with the ideas of will versus desir

*You'll not go till i set you up a glass where you may see the inmost part of you

*Hamlet to Gertrude: Hamlet is forcefully speaking his mother Gertrude in response to having been summoned to her chamber. This scene and quotation is vital in showing Hamlet's first, true confrontation with his mother about his suspicions of her immorali

*I must be cruel, only to be kind

*Hamlet to Gertrude: Hamlet's parting statement from his confrontation with his mother evinces another facet of the recurring theme of revenge. Hamlet's derision of Gertrude for her betrayal of old Hamlet and her immorality is simply another element of hi

*This man shall set me packing

*Hamlet to Gertrude: [Hamlet to Queen] Hamlet is addressing his murder of Polonius, that his troubles have finialized his trip. One aspect that is worthy of note is his continued indifference toward murder. It is one instance that foreshadows the result o

*Suit the action to the word, the word to the action

*Hamlet to actors: Hamlet coaches the player about how to precisely perform his part during the play. The minute details of the act are crucial, as Hamlet intends for this play to be an indicator to prove Claudius' guilt. His desire for absolute certainty

The cat will mew, and the dog will have his day

Hamlet to Claudius and Gertrude: Hamlet confronts Laertes, as the hostility between them heightens when propelled by Ophelia's death. By stating that no great power of man, not even that of Hercules, can change the most fundamental nature of beings, Hamle

*There's a divinity that shapes our ends

*Hamlet to Horatio: Hamlet speaks to Horatio about how there exists greater powers in the world which trump our individual decisions and ultimately decide our fates. In a way, this quote represents a turning point for Hamlet, as has taken a step back from