--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: So fair and foul a day I have not seen." description: "\"“So fair and foul a day I have not seen.”\" — William Shakespeare" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dec/william-shakespeare-4_fair_so-fair-and-foul-a-day-i-have-not-seen-2_2704729.jpg" --- # So fair and foul a day I have not seen. ![“So fair and foul a day I have not seen.” quote by William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dec/william-shakespeare-4_fair_so-fair-and-foul-a-day-i-have-not-seen-2_2704729.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dec/william-shakespeare-4_fair_so-fair-and-foul-a-day-i-have-not-seen-2_2704729.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dec/william-shakespeare-4_fair_so-fair-and-foul-a-day-i-have-not-seen-2_2704729.jpg) > ““So fair and foul a day I have not seen.”” [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. A day can be both beautiful and terrible, reflecting life's dual nature. **In simple terms:** Days can be both good and bad. Key Takeaway Accept life's contradictions. Themes duality fortune beauty misfortune perception Mood melancholic reflective Type literary philosophical When to use this quote - personal reflection - writing - art criticism - philosophical debate Key Concepts tragic irony human experience Questions to Reflect On - What makes a day feel both fair and foul? - How do you reconcile mixed emotions? A Different Perspective Not all days fit this binary. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Fair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fair/) [Macbeth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/macbeth/) ## Related quotes > [So fair and foul a day i had not seen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/so-fair-and-foul-a-day-i-had-not-seen/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [So foul and fair a day I have not seen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/so-foul-and-fair-a-day-i-have-not-seen/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [“Infected minds to their deaf pillows will discharge their secrets.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/infected-minds-to-their-deaf-pillows-will-discharge-their-secrets/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [“My plenteous joys, Wanton in fulness, seek to hide themselves In drops of sorrow. Sons, kinsmen, thanes, And you whose places are the nearest,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/my-plenteous-joys-wanton-in-fulness-seek-to-hide-themselves-in-drops/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [Ah fair Zenocrate, divine Zenocrate, Fair is too foul an epithet for thee.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-marlowe/ah-fair-zenocrate-divine-zenocrate-fair-is-too-foul-an-epithet-for/) [Christopher Marlowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-marlowe/) > [First of all, you want umpires to call what they see. 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It's very thin,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harlan-coben/i-like-to-see-the-difference-between-good-and-evil-as-kind-of-like/) [Harlan Coben](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harlan-coben/) > [When you're hot, it's fair, when you're not, it's foul.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-reynolds/when-you-re-hot-it-s-fair-when-you-re-not-it-s-foul/) Harold Reynolds ## 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. 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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/) [Explore all 5,604 William Shakespeare quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) ## More Fair quotes > [We'd always come into Syracuse for the Empire State Games and the stair fair.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beau-biden/we-d-always-come-into-syracuse-for-the-empire-state-games-and-the/) [Beau Biden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beau-biden/) > [If China someday gains a more fair, just, and accountable system of government, it will be due to the hard work and efforts of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-mackinnon/if-china-someday-gains-a-more-fair-just-and-accountable-system-of/) [Rebecca MacKinnon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-mackinnon/) > [“All fair in love and bonus round”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-charters/all-fair-in-love-and-bonus-round/) David Charters > [Do not complain of life's unfairness. It is never fair - at best it is impartial.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-gemmell/do-not-complain-of-life-s-unfairness-it-is-never-fair-at-best-it-is/) [David Gemmell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-gemmell/) > [Our own distrust gives a fair pretence for the knavery of other people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/our-own-distrust-gives-a-fair-pretence-for-the-knavery-of-other-people/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > ['Vanity Fair' is a left-wing rag.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ailes/vanity-fair-is-a-left-wing-rag/) [Roger Ailes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ailes/) > [Marylanders have led the nation in adopting a balanced approach to revenues and investments because we know that in order to maintain and build…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-o-malley/marylanders-have-led-the-nation-in-adopting-a-balanced-approach-to/) [Martin O'Malley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-o-malley/) > [We did a 'Vanity Fair' spread for 'The Hunger Games,' and we were on set, and I saw a little head pop up from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-ludwig/we-did-a-vanity-fair-spread-for-the-hunger-games-and-we-were-on-set/) [Alexander Ludwig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-ludwig/) > [It's encouraging to watch bipartisan leaders from different states recognize the need for fair and rational legislation focused on creating second chances for those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-g-rubin/it-s-encouraging-to-watch-bipartisan-leaders-from-different-states/) [Michael G. Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-g-rubin/) > [There's nothing fair nor beautiful, but takes Something from thee, that makes it beautiful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-wadsworth-longfellow/there-s-nothing-fair-nor-beautiful-but-takes-something-from-thee-that/) [Henry Wadsworth Longfellow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-wadsworth-longfellow/) > [I believe that free but fair trade is an absolute imperative.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-e-james/i-believe-that-free-but-fair-trade-is-an-absolute-imperative/) [John E. James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-e-james/) > ['Fair' is, like, this incredibly overused term in negotiations: 'I just want what's fair.' 'What's the fair market price?'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-voss/fair-is-like-this-incredibly-overused-term-in-negotiations-i-just/) [Christopher Voss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-voss/) > [“Sometimes I feel that the only concept of fairness in our society is creams like fair & lovely or fair & handsome.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeroninio-almeida/sometimes-i-feel-that-the-only-concept-of-fairness-in-our-society-is/) [Jeroninio Almeida](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeroninio-almeida/) > [When President Obama first came into office in 2009, I spent a fair amount of time in Michigan.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-deese/when-president-obama-first-came-into-office-in-2009-i-spent-a-fair/) [Brian Deese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-deese/) > [I suggest you to do war but never love because in war either you live or you die. But in love neither you live…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adolf-hitler/i-suggest-you-to-do-war-but-never-love-because-in-war-either-you-live/) [Adolf Hitler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adolf-hitler/) [Browse all 1,541 Fair quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fair/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“So fair and foul a day I have not seen.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "William Shakespeare" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/so-fair-and-foul-a-day-i-have-not-seen/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Fair" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/so-fair-and-foul-a-day-i-have-not-seen/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dec/william-shakespeare-4_fair_so-fair-and-foul-a-day-i-have-not-seen-2_2704729.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dec/william-shakespeare-4_fair_so-fair-and-foul-a-day-i-have-not-seen-2_2704729.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dec/william-shakespeare-4_fair_so-fair-and-foul-a-day-i-have-not-seen-2_2704729.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“So fair and foul a day I have not seen.” — William Shakespeare", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "William Shakespeare", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“So fair and foul a day...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/so-fair-and-foul-a-day-i-have-not-seen/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/so-fair-and-foul-a-day-i-have-not-seen/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```