Phrases from Hamlet in common English
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William Shakespeare's William Shakespeare ( 26 April 1564 – 23 April 1616) was an English playwright, poet and actor. He is widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's pre-eminent dramatist. He is often called England's nation ...
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Hamlet ''The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark'', often shortened to ''Hamlet'' (), is a tragedy written by William Shakespeare sometime between 1599 and 1601. It is Shakespeare's longest play, with 29,551 words. Set in Denmark, the play depicts ...
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English English usually refers to: * English language * English people English may also refer to: Peoples, culture, and language * ''English'', an adjective for something of, from, or related to England ** English national ide ...
, from the famous "
To be, or not to be "To be, or not to be" is the opening phrase of a soliloquy given by Prince Hamlet in the so-called "nunnery scene" of William Shakespeare's play ''Hamlet'', Act 3, Scene 1. In the speech, Hamlet contemplates death and suicide, weighing the pa ...
" to a few less known, but still in everyday English. Also, some occur elsewhere, such as
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, or are proverbial. A few, listed out (''Note: all are
second quarto The earliest texts of William Shakespeare's works were published during the 16th and 17th centuries in quarto or folio format. Folios are large, tall volumes; quartos are smaller, roughly half the size. The publications of the latter are usually a ...
except as noted''): Act I, scene 1: :''As the mote is to trouble the mind's eye'' ("Mind's eye," though it did not originate as a phrase in this play, was popularized by Shakespeare's use of it.In my mind's eye
/ref>) Act I, scene 2: :''... all that lives must die,'' :''Passing through nature to eternity.'' :''Frailty,
thy name is "______, thy name is ______" is a snowclone used to indicate the completeness with which something or somebody (indicated by the second part) embodies a particular quality (indicated by the first part), usually a negative one. History In most i ...
woman!'' Act I, scene 3: :''...the primrose path...'' :''Neither a borrower nor a lender be;'' :''For the apparel oft proclaims the man'' :''This above all: to thine ownself be true,'' :''Giving more light than heat,...'' Act I, scene 4: :''And to the manner born, ...'' (i.e., predisposed to the practice. This phrase is sometimes mistakenly rendered as "to the ''manor'' born", and used to mean 'of the privileged class”; see references for more on this one. In recent years this misconception has spread through the popularity of the British sitcom '' To the Manor Born'', the title of which was a deliberate pun on Shakespeare's phrase.) :''More honoured in the breach than the observance.'' (Another misunderstood phrase, in the context (the Danes' drinking customs) it signifies that the Danes gain more honour by neglecting their drunken customs than following them; however, it has come to be used in situations where it simply means that a custom is hardly ever followed.) :''O, answer me!'' (Hamlet's anguished cry to his father's
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) :''
Something is rotten in the state of Denmark {{DEFAULTSORT:Something Is Rotten In The State Of Denmark Redirects to Wiktionary Shakespearean phrases ...
.'' Act I, scene 5: :''Murder most foul, ...'' :''The time is out of joint ...'' :''There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio,'' :''Than are dreamt of in your philosophy.'' Act II, scene 2: "Caviar to the general" Hamlet Act 2, scene 2, 431–440 :''...brevity is the soul of wit,'' :''Though this be madness, yet there is method in 't,'' :''There is nothing either good or bad but thinking makes it so.'' — (Note: this is a first folio passage) :''
What a piece of work is a man "What a piece of work is a man!" is a phrase within a monologue by Prince Hamlet in William Shakespeare's play ''Hamlet''. Hamlet is reflecting, at first admiringly, and then despairingly, on the human condition. The speech The monologue, spoken ...
!'' :''And yet, to me, what is this quintessence of dust?'' :''...an old man is twice a child.'' :''... man delights not me'' :''O, what a rogue and peasant slave am I!'' :''... and the devil hath power'' :''To assume a pleasing shape;'' :''...The play's the thing wherein I'll catch the conscience of the king.'' Act III, scene 1: :''
To be, or not to be "To be, or not to be" is the opening phrase of a soliloquy given by Prince Hamlet in the so-called "nunnery scene" of William Shakespeare's play ''Hamlet'', Act 3, Scene 1. In the speech, Hamlet contemplates death and suicide, weighing the pa ...
: that is the question ...'' ::''...what dreams may come,'' (part of last, the
title A title is one or more words used before or after a person's name, in certain contexts. It may signify either generation, an official position, or a professional or academic qualification. In some languages, titles may be inserted between the f ...
of a
Robin Williams Robin McLaurin Williams (July 21, 1951August 11, 2014) was an American actor and comedian. Known for his improvisational skills and the wide variety of characters he created on the spur of the moment and portrayed on film, in dramas and come ...
movie.) ::''When we have shuffled off this mortal coil,'' (another from
To be, or not to be "To be, or not to be" is the opening phrase of a soliloquy given by Prince Hamlet in the so-called "nunnery scene" of William Shakespeare's play ''Hamlet'', Act 3, Scene 1. In the speech, Hamlet contemplates death and suicide, weighing the pa ...
) :''Get thee to a nunnery'' (occurs several places in this scene) :''O, woe is me,'' Act III, scene 2: :'' Speak the speech ...'' :''Purpose is but the slave to memory,'' :'' The lady doth protest too much, methinks.'' Act III, Scene 4: :''
Hoist with his own petard "Hoist with his own petard" is a phrase from a speech in William Shakespeare's play ''Hamlet'' that has become proverbial. The phrase's meaning is that a bomb-maker is blown ("hoist") off the ground by his own bomb (a "petard" is a small explosiv ...
'' Act III, Scene 4: :''I must be cruel, only to be kind'' (several songs, including
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Nick Lowe Nicholas Drain Lowe (born 24 March 1949) is an English singer-songwriter, musician and producer. A noted figure in power pop and new wave,misquote; in the previous scene
Laertes In Greek mythology, Laertes (; grc, Λαέρτης, Laértēs ; also spelled Laërtes) was the king of the Cephallenians, an ethnic group who lived both on the Ionian islands and on the mainland, which he presumably inherited from his father A ...
observes, ''"I know him well..."'') :''Let Hercules himself do what he may,'' :''The cat will mew and dog will have his day.'' :''Will he nill he.'' Act V, Scene 2: :''There's a divinity that shapes our ends,'' :''Rough-hew them how we will ...'' :''report me and my cause aright ... To tell my story.'' ( Hamlet's dying request to
Horatio Horatio is an English male given name, an Italianized form of the ancient Roman Latin '' nomen'' (name) '' Horatius'', from the Roman '' gens'' (clan) '' Horatia''. The modern Italian form is ''Orazio'', the modern Spanish form ''Horacio''. It app ...
) :''... The rest is silence.'' (Hamlet's last words) :Now cracks a noble heart. Good night, sweet prince, :And flights of angels sing thee to thy rest. :''...so shall you hear'' :''Of carnal, bloody, and unnatural acts,'' :''Of accidental judgments, casual slaughters,'' :''Of deaths put on by cunning and forced cause,'' (Horatio's discussion of the play's blood-bath)


See also

* Shakespeare's influence on the English language


References


External links

''Major links:''
Entire playThe entire play, searchable
''Minor links:''

{{Hamlet Hamlet