Character Quotes by William Shakespeare

The rarer action is in virtue than in vengeance.

— William Shakespeare

Assume a virtue if you have it not.

— William Shakespeare

Your "if" is the only peacemaker; much virtue in "if.

— William Shakespeare

Virtue is bold, and goodness never fearful.

— William Shakespeare

I like not fair terms and a villain's mind.

— William Shakespeare

In thy face I see the map of honour, truth and loyalty.

— William Shakespeare

So our virtues lie in the interpretation of the time

— William Shakespeare

I say, without characters, fame lives long.

— William Shakespeare

Mine honour is my life; both grow in one; Take honour from me, and my life is done.

— William Shakespeare

Virtue that transgresses is but patched with sin; and sin that amends is but patched with virtue.

— William Shakespeare

I am sure, Though you can guess what temperance should be, You know not what it is.

— William Shakespeare

To wilful men, the injuries that they themselves procure must be their schoolmasters.

— William Shakespeare

Virtue and genuine graces in themselves speak what no words can utter.

— William Shakespeare

Do you set down your name in the scroll of youth, that are written down old with all the characters of age?

— William Shakespeare

Virtue itself turns vice, being misapplied, And vice sometime by action dignified.

— William Shakespeare

In struggling with misfortunes lies the true proof of virtue.

— William Shakespeare

A thousand moral paintings I can show That shall demonstrate these quick blows of Fortune's More pregnantly than words.

— William Shakespeare

“And therefore, Tranio, for the time I study 17 Virtue, and that part of philosophy 18 Will I apply that treats of…

— William Shakespeare

Such an act That blurs the grace and blush of modesty; Calls virtue hypocrite; takes off the rose From the fair forehead…

— William Shakespeare

For it falls out That what we have we prize not to the worth Whiles we enjoy it, but being lacked and…

— William Shakespeare

The web of our life is of a mingled yarn, good and ill together: our virtues would be proud if our faults…

— William Shakespeare

'Tis all men's office to speak patience To those that wring under the load of sorrow; But no man's virtue nor sufficiency…

— William Shakespeare

Thou art most rich, being poor; Most choice, forsaken; and most lov'd, despis'd! Thee and thy virtues here I seize upon.

— William Shakespeare

Therefore it is most expedient for the wise, if Don Worm (his conscience) find no impediment to the contrary, to be the…

— William Shakespeare

Assume a virtue, if you have it not. That monster, custom, who all sense doth eat, Of habits devil, is angel yet…

— William Shakespeare

“Virtue? A fig! 'Tis in ourselves that we are thus or thus. Our bodies are our gardens, to the which our wills…

— William Shakespeare

Good name in man and woman, dear my lord, Is the immediate jewel of their souls: Who steals my purse steals trash;…

— William Shakespeare

Full many a lady I have eyed with best regard, and many a time Th' harmony of their tongues hath into bondage…

— William Shakespeare

“So our virtues Lie in the interpretation of the time: And power, unto itself most commendable, Hath not a tomb so evident…

— William Shakespeare

Thyself and thy belongings Are not thine own so proper, as to waste Thyself upon thy virtues, they on thee. Heaven doth…

— William Shakespeare

Men should be what they seem.

— William Shakespeare

“Some rise by sin, and some by virtues fall. ”

— William Shakespeare

Some rise by sin, and some by virtue fall.

— William Shakespeare

And what’s he then that says I play the villain?

— William Shakespeare

Most subject is the fattest soil to weeds.

— William Shakespeare

Virtue is chok'd with foul ambition

— William Shakespeare

Sin, that amends, is but patched with virtue.

— William Shakespeare

Ambition, the soldier's virtue.

— William Shakespeare

“I had as lief have the foppery of freedom as the morality of imprisonment.”

— William Shakespeare

Is this a dagger which I see before me, The handle toward my hand?

— William Shakespeare