Phrases From Hamlet In Common English
   HOME

TheInfoList



OR:

William Shakespeare's play ''
Hamlet ''The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark'', often shortened to ''Hamlet'' (), is a Shakespearean tragedy, tragedy written by William Shakespeare sometime between 1599 and 1601. It is Shakespeare's longest play. Set in Denmark, the play (the ...
'' has contributed many phrases to common English, from the famous "
To be, or not to be "To be, or not to be" is a speech given by Prince Hamlet in the so-called "nunnery scene" of William Shakespeare's play ''Hamlet'' (Act 3, Scene 1). The speech is named for the opening phrase, itself among the most widely known and quoted lines ...
" to a few less known, but still in everyday English. Some also occur elsewhere (e.g. in
the Bible The Bible is a collection of religious texts that are central to Christianity and Judaism, and esteemed in other Abrahamic religions such as Islam. The Bible is an anthology (a compilation of texts of a variety of forms) originally writte ...
) or are
proverb A proverb (from ) or an adage is a simple, traditional saying that expresses a perceived truth based on common sense or experience. Proverbs are often metaphorical and are an example of formulaic speech, formulaic language. A proverbial phrase ...
ial. All quotations are second quarto 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>)


Scene 2

:''... all that lives must die,'' :''Passing through nature to eternity.'' :''Frailty, thy name is woman!''


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,...''


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
ghost In folklore, a ghost is the soul or Spirit (supernatural entity), spirit of a dead Human, person or non-human animal that is believed by some people to be able to appear to the living. In ghostlore, descriptions of ghosts vary widely, from a ...
) :'' Something is rotten in the state of Denmark.''


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

:''… caviary to the general.'' (often repeated as “caviar to the general,” where “the general” signifies the masses or ordinary people) – l. 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 ''Mr. William Shakespeare's Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies'' is a collection of plays by William Shakespeare, commonly referred to by modern scholars as the First Folio, published in 1623, about seven years after Shakespeare's death. It is cons ...
passage) :'' What a piece of work is a man!'' :''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 a speech given by Prince Hamlet in the so-called "nunnery scene" of William Shakespeare's play ''Hamlet'' (Act 3, Scene 1). The speech is named for the opening phrase, itself among the most widely known and quoted lines ...
: 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 their generation, official position, military rank, professional or academic qualification, or nobility. In some languages, titles may be ins ...
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 comedie ...
movie.) ::''When we have shuffled off this mortal coil,'' (another from
To be, or not to be "To be, or not to be" is a speech given by Prince Hamlet in the so-called "nunnery scene" of William Shakespeare's play ''Hamlet'' (Act 3, Scene 1). The speech is named for the opening phrase, itself among the most widely known and quoted lines ...
) :''Get thee to a nunnery'' (occurs several places in this scene) :''O, woe is me,''


Scene 2

:'' Speak the speech ...'' :''Purpose is but the slave to memory,'' :''
The lady doth protest too much, methinks "The lady doth protest too much, methinks" is a line from the play ''Hamlet'' by William Shakespeare. It is spoken by Queen Gertrude in response to the insincere overacting of a character in the play within a play created by Prince Hamlet to eli ...
.'' Scene 4 :'' Hoist with his own petard'' :''I must be cruel, only to be kind'' (several songs, including Cruel to Be Kind by
Nick Lowe Nicholas Drain Lowe (born 24 March 1949) is an English singer-songwriter, musician and producer. A noted figure in Pub rock (United Kingdom), pub rock, power pop and New wave music, new wave,misquote; in the previous scene Laertes 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.''


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) :''... 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