---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It is a basilisk unto mine eye, Kills me…"
description: "\"It is a basilisk unto mine eye, Kills me to look on't.\" — William Shakespeare"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7d2/william-shakespeare-4_eye_it-is-a-basilisk-unto-mine-eye-kills-me_2238387.jpg"
---

#  It is a basilisk unto mine eye, Kills me to look on't.

![“It is a basilisk unto mine eye, Kills me to look on't.” quote by William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7d2/william-shakespeare-4_eye_it-is-a-basilisk-unto-mine-eye-kills-me_2238387.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7d2/william-shakespeare-4_eye_it-is-a-basilisk-unto-mine-eye-kills-me_2238387.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7d2/william-shakespeare-4_eye_it-is-a-basilisk-unto-mine-eye-kills-me_2238387.jpg)

> “It is a basilisk unto mine eye, Kills me to look on't.”

[William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Seeing the terrifying creature (basilisk) is deadly; the speaker is harmed just by looking.

**In simple terms:** Looking at a monster kills you.

Key Takeaway

Avoid confronting deadly threats directly.

Themes

danger fear mythical creatures

Mood

eerie dramatic

Type

literary mythic

When to use this quote

- exploration of cursed sites
- encounter with monsters
- psychic horror
- mythic storytelling

Key Concepts

basilisk legend psychological terror

Questions to Reflect On

- What does the basilisk represent in your life?
- How do you handle confronting frightening truths?

A Different Perspective

The metaphor may be symbolic rather than literal.

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[Basilisk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/basilisk/) [Basilisk Unto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/basilisk-unto-5064571/) [Eye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/eye/) [Eye Kills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/eye-kills-5064573/) [Fear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fear/) [Kill me](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kill-me/) [Kills Look](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kills-look-5064572/) [Look](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/look/) [Looks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/looks/) [Mines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mines/)

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