--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: You are a villain!\" Iago: \"You are a…" description: "\"“You are a villain!\" Iago: \"You are a senator!”\" — William Shakespeare" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a30/william-shakespeare-4_iago_you-are-a-villain-iago-you-are-a-senator_2928194.jpg" --- # You are a villain!" Iago: "You are a senator! ![“You are a villain!" Iago: "You are a senator!” quote by William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a30/william-shakespeare-4_iago_you-are-a-villain-iago-you-are-a-senator_2928194.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a30/william-shakespeare-4_iago_you-are-a-villain-iago-you-are-a-senator_2928194.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a30/william-shakespeare-4_iago_you-are-a-villain-iago-you-are-a-senator_2928194.jpg) > ““You are a villain!" Iago: "You are a senator!”” [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. Iago accuses Othello of villainy while simultaneously labeling him a senator, exposing hypocrisy and manipulation. **In simple terms:** Iago calls Othello both villain and senator. Key Takeaway Beware manipulative rhetoric. Themes hypocrisy power manipulation Mood dramatic critical Type analytical theatrical When to use this quote - literature classes - theatre productions - critical essays Key Concepts Shakespearean drama political intrigue character analysis Questions to Reflect On - What does this dual labeling reveal about Iago? - How does power affect moral perception? A Different Perspective May lack full context of the play. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Iago](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/iago/) [Iago Senator](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/iago-senator-4301558/) [Othello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/othello/) [Senator](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/senator/) [Villain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/villain/) [Villain Iago](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/villain-iago-4301557/) ## Related quotes > [A character I would love to play is Iago, from Othello.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-roth/a-character-i-would-love-to-play-is-iago-from-othello/) [Tim Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-roth/) > [“Love he hates, hatred he loves! Iago, the Mephistopheles!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/md-ziaul-haque/love-he-hates-hatred-he-loves-iago-the-mephistopheles/) [Md. Ziaul Haque](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/md-ziaul-haque/) > [ “The English letter ‘O’ is similar to zero (0) in appearance. Iago’s \[I am Ego = ‘I’ ‘a’m e‘go’\] name starts with an egoistic… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/md-ziaul-haque/the-english-letter-o-is-similar-to-zero-0-in-appearance-iago-s-i-am/) [Md. Ziaul Haque](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/md-ziaul-haque/) > [“How shall I murder him, Iago?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/how-shall-i-murder-him-iago/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [“Virtue? A fig! 'Tis in ourselves that we are thus or thus.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/virtue-a-fig-tis-in-ourselves-that-we-are-thus-or-thus/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [“How poor are they that have not patience! What wound did ever heal but by degrees? Iago”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/how-poor-are-they-that-have-not-patience-what-wound-did-ever-heal-but/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [“For when my outward action doth demonstrate The native act and figure of my heart In complement extern 'tis not long after But I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/for-when-my-outward-action-doth-demonstrate-the-native-act-and-figure/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [IAGO: She that was ever fair and never proud, Had tongue at will and yet was never loud, Never lack'd gold and yet went…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/iago-she-that-was-ever-fair-and-never-proud-had-tongue-at-will-and/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [“if I were the Moor I wouldn't want to be Iago.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/if-i-were-the-moor-i-wouldn-t-want-to-be-iago/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [They are all but stomachs, and we all but food; They eat us hungerly, and when they are full, They belch us](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/they-are-all-but-stomachs-and-we-all-but-food-they-eat-us-hungerly/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [“O, she was foul!— I scarce did know you, uncle; there lies your niece, Whose breath, indeed, these hands have newly stopp'd: I know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/o-she-was-foul-i-scarce-did-know-you-uncle-there-lies-your-niece/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [“It is the green eyed monster which doth mock.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/it-is-the-green-eyed-monster-which-doth-mock/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [“But jealous souls will not be answered so. They are not ever jealous for the cause, But jealous for they’re jealous. It is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/but-jealous-souls-will-not-be-answered-so-they-are-not-ever-jealous/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [“I think the sun where he were born drew all such humours from him.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/i-think-the-sun-where-he-were-born-drew-all-such-humours-from-him/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [“What cannot be preserved when fortune takes Patience her injury a mock'ry makes. The robbed that smiles steals something from the thief. He robs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/what-cannot-be-preserved-when-fortune-takes-patience-her-injury-a/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) ## 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/) [Explore all 5,604 William Shakespeare quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) ## More Iago quotes > [“As his wife, Emilia must know Iago better than anybody else. She does not know, any more than the others, that he is malevolent,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-h-auden-2/as-his-wife-emilia-must-know-iago-better-than-anybody-else-she-does/) [W.H. Auden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-h-auden-2/) > [“if I were the Moor I wouldn't want to be Iago.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/if-i-were-the-moor-i-wouldn-t-want-to-be-iago/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [“Iago’s treatment of Othello conforms to Bacon’s definition of scientific enquiry as putting Nature to the Question. If a member of the audience were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-h-auden-2/iago-s-treatment-of-othello-conforms-to-bacon-s-definition-of/) [W.H. Auden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-h-auden-2/) > [“Coleridge’s description of Iago’s actions as "motiveless malignancy" applies in some degree to all the Shakespearian villains. The adjective motiveless means, firstly, that the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-h-auden-2/coleridge-s-description-of-iago-s-actions-as-motiveless-malignancy/) [W.H. Auden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-h-auden-2/) > [IAGO: She that was ever fair and never proud, Had tongue at will and yet was never loud, Never lack'd gold and yet went…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/iago-she-that-was-ever-fair-and-never-proud-had-tongue-at-will-and/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [“Shakespeare's Iago could be played as a soul in hell, driven, dark and desperate, willing to do anything, willing to use anyone, in order…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-lee-guhrke/shakespeare-s-iago-could-be-played-as-a-soul-in-hell-driven-dark-and/) [Laura Lee Guhrke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-lee-guhrke/) > [Iago is the dominant trance state of our planet. It influences our relationships, our sexuality, our parenting, and our attempts to relax. It permeates…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arjuna-ardagh/iago-is-the-dominant-trance-state-of-our-planet-it-influences-our/) [Arjuna Ardagh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arjuna-ardagh/) > [“For when my outward action doth demonstrate The native act and figure of my heart In complement extern 'tis not long after But I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/for-when-my-outward-action-doth-demonstrate-the-native-act-and-figure/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [“In scenes like these, any man could be Iago.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/in-scenes-like-these-any-man-could-be-iago/) [Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/) > [“Iago shrugged his furry shoulders. “As you like. Saves me the work of picking the lock with my incisor.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherynne-m-valente/iago-shrugged-his-furry-shoulders-as-you-like-saves-me-the-work-of/) [Catherynne M. Valente](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherynne-m-valente/) > [What makes Iago evil? Some people ask. I never ask.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-didion/what-makes-iago-evil-some-people-ask-i-never-ask/) [Joan Didion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-didion/) > [“How poor are they that have not patience! What wound did ever heal but by degrees? Iago”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/how-poor-are-they-that-have-not-patience-what-wound-did-ever-heal-but/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [“Iago, on the other hand, seems to be malice personified, a manifestation of manifold vice with no discernible vestiges of grace.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/williiam-shakespeare/iago-on-the-other-hand-seems-to-be-malice-personified-a-manifestation/) [Williiam Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/williiam-shakespeare/) > [“Virtue? A fig! 'Tis in ourselves that we are thus or thus.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/virtue-a-fig-tis-in-ourselves-that-we-are-thus-or-thus/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [“Perhaps the most crucial choice we make in life is who to trust.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stewart-stafford/perhaps-the-most-crucial-choice-we-make-in-life-is-who-to-trust/) [Stewart Stafford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stewart-stafford/) [Browse all 23 Iago quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/iago/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“You are a villain!\" Iago: \"You are a senator!”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "William Shakespeare" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/you-are-a-villain-iago-you-are-a-senator/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Iago" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/you-are-a-villain-iago-you-are-a-senator/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a30/william-shakespeare-4_iago_you-are-a-villain-iago-you-are-a-senator_2928194.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a30/william-shakespeare-4_iago_you-are-a-villain-iago-you-are-a-senator_2928194.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a30/william-shakespeare-4_iago_you-are-a-villain-iago-you-are-a-senator_2928194.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“You are a villain!\" Iago: \"You are a senator!” — 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": "“You are a villain!\" Iago: \"You...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/you-are-a-villain-iago-you-are-a-senator/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/you-are-a-villain-iago-you-are-a-senator/#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 } } ] } ```