--- title: "9 Cunning Quotes By William Shakespeare" description: "9 Cunning quotes by William Shakespeare. Plus more from William Shakespeare and more Cunning sayings from other authors." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1c1/william-shakespeare-4_cunning_the-cunning-livery-of-hell-2285586_2285586.jpg" --- > [The cunning livery of hell.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/the-cunning-livery-of-hell/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1c1/william-shakespeare-4_cunning_the-cunning-livery-of-hell-2285586_2285586.jpg) > [The seeming truth which cunning times put on to entrap the wisest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/the-seeming-truth-which-cunning-times-put-on-to-entrap-the-wisest/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ea1/william-shakespeare-4_cunning_the-seeming-truth-which-cunning-times-pu_3223579.jpg) > [Time shall unfold what plaited cunning hides: Who cover faults, at last shame them derides.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/time-shall-unfold-what-plaited-cunning-hides-who-cover-faults-at-last/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/41f/william-shakespeare-4_cunning_time-shall-unfold-what-plaited-cunning-h_2683843.jpg) > [Tis beauty truly blent, whose red and white Nature's own sweet and cunning hand laid on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/tis-beauty-truly-blent-whose-red-and-white-nature-s-own-sweet-and/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/be6/william-shakespeare-4_beauty_tis-beauty-truly-blent-whose-red-and-whi_1103705.jpg) > [“Wherein cunning, but in craft? Wherein crafty, but in villainy? Wherein villainous, but in all things? Wherein worthy, but in nothing?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/wherein-cunning-but-in-craft-wherein-crafty-but-in-villainy-wherein/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f1e/william-shakespeare-4_cunning_wherein-cunning-but-in-craft-wherein-cra_3214812.jpg) > [I can again thy former light restore, Should I repent me: but once put out thy light, Thou cunning'st pattern of excelling…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/i-can-again-thy-former-light-restore-should-i-repent-me-but-once-put/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/372/william-shakespeare-4_cunning_i-can-again-thy-former-light-restore-sho_2989026.jpg) > [The language I have learnt these forty years, My native English, now I must forgo; And now my tongue's use is to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/the-language-i-have-learnt-these-forty-years-my-native-english-now-i/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/369/william-shakespeare-4_cunning_the-language-i-have-learnt-these-forty-y_1547161.jpg) > [Treason and murder ever kept together, As two yoke-devils sworn to either's purpose, Working so grossly in a natural cause That admiration…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/treason-and-murder-ever-kept-together-as-two-yoke-devils-sworn-to/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d98/william-shakespeare-4_admiration_treason-and-murder-ever-kept-together-as_39758.jpg) > [“This is in thee a nature but infected; A poor unmanly melancholy sprung From change of fortune. Why this spade? this place?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/this-is-in-thee-a-nature-but-infected-a-poor-unmanly-melancholy/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2bb/william-shakespeare-4_change_this-is-in-thee-a-nature-but-infected-a_304616.jpg) ## Other authors on Cunning ## More by William Shakespeare > [Let us kill all lawyers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/let-us-kill-all-lawyers/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [A horse, a horse, my kingdom for a horse!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/a-horse-a-horse-my-kingdom-for-a-horse/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [O tiger's heart wrapped in a woman's hide!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/o-tiger-s-heart-wrapped-in-a-woman-s-hide/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [Time hath not yet so dried this blood of mine, Nor age so eat up my invention, Nor fortune made such havoc of my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/time-hath-not-yet-so-dried-this-blood-of-mine-nor-age-so-eat-up-my/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [Divers philosophers hold that the lips is parcel of the mouth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/divers-philosophers-hold-that-the-lips-is-parcel-of-the-mouth/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [Short time seems long in sorrow's sharp sustaining.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/short-time-seems-long-in-sorrow-s-sharp-sustaining/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [“Love is a smoke made with the fume of sighs; Being purg'd, a fire sparkling in lovers' eyes; Being vex'd, a sea nourish'd with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/love-is-a-smoke-made-with-the-fume-of-sighs-being-purg-d-a-fire/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [I, measuring his affections by my own, Which then most sought where most might not be found, Being one too many by my weary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/i-measuring-his-affections-by-my-own-which-then-most-sought-where/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [Ask God for temp'rance. That's th' appliance only Which your disease requires.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/ask-god-for-temp-rance-that-s-th-appliance-only-which-your-disease/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [“Thou hast no figures nor no fantasies Which busy care draws in the brains of men; Therefore thou sleep’st so sound. Julius Caesar (2.1.248-251)”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/thou-hast-no-figures-nor-no-fantasies-which-busy-care-draws-in-the/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [Truth needs no color; beauty, no pencil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/truth-needs-no-color-beauty-no-pencil/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [Have you not heard it said full oft, A woman's nay doth stand for naught?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/have-you-not-heard-it-said-full-oft-a-woman-s-nay-doth-stand-for/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [Omittance is no quittance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/omittance-is-no-quittance/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [“Yes, madam: yet I cannot choose but laugh, To think it should leave crying and say 'Ay.' And yet, I warrant, it had upon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/yes-madam-yet-i-cannot-choose-but-laugh-to-think-it-should-leave/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [I take thee at thy word: Call me but love, and I'll be new baptized; Henceforth I never will be Romeo.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/i-take-thee-at-thy-word-call-me-but-love-and-i-ll-be-new-baptized/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "ItemList", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cunning/william-shakespeare/#itemlist", "name": "9 Cunning Quotes By William Shakespeare", "numberOfItems": 9, "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The cunning livery of hell.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "William Shakespeare" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/the-cunning-livery-of-hell/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1c1/william-shakespeare-4_cunning_the-cunning-livery-of-hell-2285586_2285586.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1c1/william-shakespeare-4_cunning_the-cunning-livery-of-hell-2285586_2285586.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1c1/william-shakespeare-4_cunning_the-cunning-livery-of-hell-2285586_2285586.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The cunning livery of hell.” — William Shakespeare", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The seeming truth which cunning times put on to entrap the wisest.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "William Shakespeare" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/the-seeming-truth-which-cunning-times-put-on-to-entrap-the-wisest/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ea1/william-shakespeare-4_cunning_the-seeming-truth-which-cunning-times-pu_3223579.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ea1/william-shakespeare-4_cunning_the-seeming-truth-which-cunning-times-pu_3223579.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ea1/william-shakespeare-4_cunning_the-seeming-truth-which-cunning-times-pu_3223579.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The seeming truth which cunning times put on to entrap the wisest.” — William Shakespeare", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Time shall unfold what plaited cunning hides: Who cover faults, at last shame them derides.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "William Shakespeare" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/time-shall-unfold-what-plaited-cunning-hides-who-cover-faults-at-last/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/41f/william-shakespeare-4_cunning_time-shall-unfold-what-plaited-cunning-h_2683843.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/41f/william-shakespeare-4_cunning_time-shall-unfold-what-plaited-cunning-h_2683843.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/41f/william-shakespeare-4_cunning_time-shall-unfold-what-plaited-cunning-h_2683843.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Time shall unfold what plaited cunning hides: Who cover faults, at last shame them derides.” — William Shakespeare", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Tis beauty truly blent, whose red and white Nature's own sweet and cunning hand laid on.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "William Shakespeare" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/tis-beauty-truly-blent-whose-red-and-white-nature-s-own-sweet-and/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/be6/william-shakespeare-4_beauty_tis-beauty-truly-blent-whose-red-and-whi_1103705.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/be6/william-shakespeare-4_beauty_tis-beauty-truly-blent-whose-red-and-whi_1103705.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/be6/william-shakespeare-4_beauty_tis-beauty-truly-blent-whose-red-and-whi_1103705.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Tis beauty truly blent, whose red and white Nature's own sweet and cunning hand laid on.” — William Shakespeare", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 5, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Wherein cunning, but in craft? 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Why this spade? this place? This slave-like habit? and these looks of care? Thy flatterers yet wear silk, drink wine, lie soft; Hug their diseased perfumes, and have forgot That ever Timon was. Shame not these woods, By putting on the cunning of a carper. Be thou a flatterer now, and seek to thrive By that which has undone thee: hinge thy knee, And let his very breath, whom thou'lt observe, Blow off thy cap; praise his most vicious strain, And call it excellent: thou wast told thus; Thou gavest thine ears like tapsters that bid welcome To knaves and all approachers: 'tis most just That thou turn rascal; hadst thou wealth again, Rascals should have 't. Do not assume my likeness.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "William Shakespeare" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/this-is-in-thee-a-nature-but-infected-a-poor-unmanly-melancholy/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2bb/william-shakespeare-4_change_this-is-in-thee-a-nature-but-infected-a_304616.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2bb/william-shakespeare-4_change_this-is-in-thee-a-nature-but-infected-a_304616.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2bb/william-shakespeare-4_change_this-is-in-thee-a-nature-but-infected-a_304616.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“This is in thee a nature but infected; A poor unmanly melancholy sprung From change of fortune. 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