--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Shakespeare might have met Rosencrantz…" description: "\"Shakespeare might have met Rosencrantz and Guildenstern in the white streets of London, or seen the serving-men of rival houses bite their thumbs at ea..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c6b/oscar-wilde-16_bites_shakespeare-might-have-met-rosencrantz-a_2155327.jpg" --- # Shakespeare might have met Rosencrantz and Guildenstern in… ![“Shakespeare might have met Rosencrantz and Guildenstern in the white streets of London, or seen the serving-men of rival houses bite their thumbs at each other in the open square; but Hamlet came out of his soul, and Romeo out of his passion.” quote by Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c6b/oscar-wilde-16_bites_shakespeare-might-have-met-rosencrantz-a_2155327.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c6b/oscar-wilde-16_bites_shakespeare-might-have-met-rosencrantz-a_2155327.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c6b/oscar-wilde-16_bites_shakespeare-might-have-met-rosencrantz-a_2155327.jpg) > “Shakespeare might have met Rosencrantz and Guildenstern in the white streets of London, or seen the serving-men of rival houses bite their thumbs at each other in the open square; but Hamlet came out of his soul, and Romeo out of his passion.” [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Creative expression arises from deep emotion, while intellectual work stems from rational thought; both are essential to art. **In simple terms:** Soul fuels art; mind fuels intellect. Key Takeaway Balance passion with reason. Themes creativity intellect art Mood reflective inspirational Type philosophical literary When to use this quote - writing - painting - musical composition - theatrical performance Key Concepts philosophy literature psychology Questions to Reflect On - How do you nurture both heart and mind in your work? - Can intellect and emotion coexist without conflict? A Different Perspective Overemphasis on intellect may stifle emotional authenticity. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Hamlet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hamlet/) [London](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/london/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Passion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/passion/) [Rivals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rivals/) [Rosencrantz and guildenstern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rosencrantz-and-guildenstern/) [Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shakespeare/) [Soul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/soul/) [Streets](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/streets/) ## Related quotes > [“I know of nothing in all drama more incomparable from the point of view of art, nothing more suggestive in its subtlety of observation,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/i-know-of-nothing-in-all-drama-more-incomparable-from-the-point-of/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [“Watching Hamlet embarrassing Rosencrantz and Guildenstern by showing them he knows they’re liars and spies, Max was thinking, “Hamlet cares only about the truth,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucy-beckett/watching-hamlet-embarrassing-rosencrantz-and-guildenstern-by-showing/) [Lucy Beckett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucy-beckett/) > [“also by the same author ROSENCRANTZ AND GUILDENSTERN ARE DEAD THE REAL INSPECTOR HOUND ENTER A FREE MAN AFTER MAGRITTE JUMPERS TRAVESTIES DIRTY LINEN…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-stoppard/also-by-the-same-author-rosencrantz-and-guildenstern-are-dead-the/) [Tom Stoppard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-stoppard/) > [Hamlet is to Macbeth somewhat as the Ghost is to the Witches. Revenge, or ambition, in its inception may have a lofty, even a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-clarke-goddard/hamlet-is-to-macbeth-somewhat-as-the-ghost-is-to-the-witches-revenge/) [Harold Clarke Goddard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-clarke-goddard/) > [I've done classical theaters. I played Hamlet myself and Romeo.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/damian-lewis/i-ve-done-classical-theaters-i-played-hamlet-myself-and-romeo/) [Damian Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/damian-lewis/) > [Romeo is the most misunderstood character in literature, I think. He's hardcore to play because he's displaying the characteristics of Hamlet at the beginning,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-cumming/romeo-is-the-most-misunderstood-character-in-literature-i-think-he-s/) [Alan Cumming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-cumming/) > [For Russians, to whom Pushkin's poem 'Eugene Onegin' is sacred text, the ballet's story and personae are as familiar and filled with meaning as,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-gottlieb/for-russians-to-whom-pushkin-s-poem-eugene-onegin-is-sacred-text-the/) [Robert Gottlieb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-gottlieb/) > [She is all the great heroines of the world in one. She is more than an individual. I love her, and I must make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/she-is-all-the-great-heroines-of-the-world-in-one-she-is-more-than-an/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [We become lovers when we see Romeo and Juliet, and Hamlet makes us students. The blood of Duncan is upon our hands, with Timon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/we-become-lovers-when-we-see-romeo-and-juliet-and-hamlet-makes-us/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [“Tom Stoppard’s other work includes: Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead, Jumpers, Travesties, Night and Day, After Magritte, The Real Thing, Enter A Free Man,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-stoppard/tom-stoppard-s-other-work-includes-rosencrantz-and-guildenstern-are/) [Tom Stoppard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-stoppard/) > [O God, I could be bound in a nutshell, and count myself a king of infinite space – were it not that I have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/o-god-i-could-be-bound-in-a-nutshell-and-count-myself-a-king-of/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [What did you have in mind? A short, blunt human pyramid?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-stoppard/what-did-you-have-in-mind-a-short-blunt-human-pyramid/) [Tom Stoppard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-stoppard/) > [We've traveled too far, and our momentum has taken over; we move idly towards eternity, without possibility of reprieve or hope of explanation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-stoppard/we-ve-traveled-too-far-and-our-momentum-has-taken-over-we-move-idly/) [Tom Stoppard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-stoppard/) > [More than any other contemporary British playwright, Tom Stoppard populates his plays -- from Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead to The Invention of Love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mel-gussow/more-than-any-other-contemporary-british-playwright-tom-stoppard/) Mel Gussow > [“IN 1967 YOUNG Tom Stoppard had his breakthrough hit, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead, a brilliant play about actors playing characters playing actors playing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-andersen/in-1967-young-tom-stoppard-had-his-breakthrough-hit-rosencrantz-and/) [Kurt Andersen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-andersen/) ## More by Oscar Wilde > [How else but through a broken heart may Lord Christ enter in?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/how-else-but-through-a-broken-heart-may-lord-christ-enter-in/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [The books that the world calls immoral are the books that show the world its own shame.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/the-books-that-the-world-calls-immoral-are-the-books-that-show-the/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [Bachelors should be heavily taxed. It is not fair that some men should be happier than others](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/bachelors-should-be-heavily-taxed-it-is-not-fair-that-some-men-should/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [Who, being loved, is poor?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/who-being-loved-is-poor/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [“Basil my dear boy puts everything that is charming in him into his work. The consequence is that he has nothing left for life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/basil-my-dear-boy-puts-everything-that-is-charming-in-him-into-his/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [Anybody can be good in the country](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/anybody-can-be-good-in-the-country/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [I don't at all like knowing what people say of me behind my back. It makes me far too conceited.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/i-don-t-at-all-like-knowing-what-people-say-of-me-behind-my-back-it/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [“Alles Populäre ist falsch.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/alles-popul-re-ist-falsch/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [“If these elements of beauty are real, the whole thing simply appeals to our sense of dramatic effect. Suddenly we find that we are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/if-these-elements-of-beauty-are-real-the-whole-thing-simply-appeals/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [To love one's self is the beginning of a life-long romance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/to-love-one-s-self-is-the-beginning-of-a-life-long-romance/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [“Those who find beautiful meanings in beautiful things are the cultivated. For these there is hope.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/those-who-find-beautiful-meanings-in-beautiful-things-are-the/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [Men always want to be a womans first love. Women have a more subtle instinct: What they like is to be a mans last…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/men-always-want-to-be-a-womans-first-love-women-have-a-more-subtle/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [Why is it that at a bachelor's establishment the servants invariably drink the champagne.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/why-is-it-that-at-a-bachelor-s-establishment-the-servants-invariably/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [Moderation is a fatal thing. Enough is as bad as a meal. More than enough is as good as a feast.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/moderation-is-a-fatal-thing-enough-is-as-bad-as-a-meal-more-than/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [Beauty is the only thing that time cannot harm. Philosophies fall away like sand, creeds follow one another, but what is beautiful is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/beauty-is-the-only-thing-that-time-cannot-harm-philosophies-fall-away/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) [Explore all 3,343 Oscar Wilde quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) ## More Bites quotes > [I do not want to live at the cost of the life even of a snake. 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The mind can't handle dealing with a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-de-sena/the-way-to-get-through-anything-mentally-painful-is-to-take-it-a/) [Joe De Sena](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-de-sena/) > [Experience is the only real teacher and if you keep a diary you get three bites at educating yourself - when it happens, when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-benn/experience-is-the-only-real-teacher-and-if-you-keep-a-diary-you-get/) [Tony Benn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-benn/) > [“If mankind's destined to bite the bullet, let's bite it and be damned.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darren-shan/if-mankind-s-destined-to-bite-the-bullet-let-s-bite-it-and-be-damned/) [Darren Shan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darren-shan/) > [Our legal system, including the police, is anti-Dalit and anti-poor. The death penalty laws' wrathful majesty, in blood-shot equality, deals the fatal blow on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/v-r-krishna-iyer/our-legal-system-including-the-police-is-anti-dalit-and-anti-poor-the/) V. R. 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