Quotes · Skopia

521 quotes

This above all: to thine own self be true, And it must follow, as the night the day, Thou canst not then be false to any man. — William Shakespeare · 1616 To be or not to be—that is the question: Whether ’tis nobler in the mind to suffer The slings and arrows of outrageous fortune, Or to take arms against a sea of troubles And, by opposing, end them. To die, to sleep— No more—and by a sleep to say we end The heartache and the thousand natural shocks That flesh is heir to—’tis a consummation Devoutly to be wished. To die, to sleep— To sleep, perchance to dream. Ay, there’s the rub, For in that sleep of death what dreams may come, When we have shuffled off this mortal coil, Must give us pause. — William Shakespeare · 1616 Sigh no more, ladies, sigh no more, Men were deceivers ever, One foot in sea and one on shore, To one thing constant never. — William Shakespeare · 1600 What a piece of work is a man, how noble in reason, how infinite in faculties, in form and moving how express and admirable; in action how like an angel, in apprehension how like a god: the beauty of the world, the paragon of animals-And yet, to me, what is this quintessence of dust? — William Shakespeare · 1616 Eat no onions nor garlic, for we are to utter sweet breath. — William Shakespeare · 1599 Come what come may, Time and the hour runs through the roughest day. — William Shakespeare · 1616 All 249 quotes →

George Bernard Shaw22 quotes

You see things; and you say "Why?" But I dream things that never were; and I say "Why not?" — George Bernard Shaw · 1921 Assassination is the extreme form of censorship. — George Bernard Shaw · 1909 The fickleness of the women I love is only equalled by the infernal constancy of the women who love me. — George Bernard Shaw · 1898 This is the true joy in life, the being used for a purpose recognized by yourself as a mighty one; the being thoroughly worn out before you are thrown on the scrap heap; the being a force of Nature instead of a feverish selfish little clod of ailments and grievances complaining that the world will not devote itself to making you happy. — George Bernard Shaw · 1903 The reasonable man adapts himself to the world: the unreasonable one persists in trying to adapt the world to himself. Therefore all progress depends on the unreasonable man. — George Bernard Shaw · 1903 All great truths begin as blasphemies. — George Bernard Shaw · 1918 All 22 quotes →

Sophocles21 quotes

There are many wonderful things, and nothing is more wonderful than man. — Sophocles · 441 BC For God hates utterly The bray of bragging tongues. — Sophocles · 442 BC Reason is God's crowning gift to man. — Sophocles · 442 BC How dreadful knowledge of the truth can be When there's no help in truth! — Sophocles · 430 BC The greatest griefs are those we cause ourselves. — Sophocles · 430 BC The happiest life consists in ignorance. — Sophocles · 442 BC All 21 quotes →

Oscar Wilde15 quotes

We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars. — Oscar Wilde · 1892 One can live for years sometimes, without living at all, and then all life comes crowding into a single hour. — Oscar Wilde · 1880 Moods don't last. It is their chief charm. — Oscar Wilde · 1893 Discontent is the first step in the progress of a man or a nation. — Oscar Wilde · 1893 It is not the perfect, but the imperfect, who have need of love. — Oscar Wilde · 1895 The world has always laughed at its own tragedies, that being the only way in which it has been able to bear them. — Oscar Wilde · 1893 All 15 quotes →

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe14 quotes

One lives but once in this world. — Johann Wolfgang von Goethe · 1774 Life teaches us to be less harsh with ourselves and with others. — Johann Wolfgang von Goethe · 1787 Who strives always to the utmost, For him there is salvation. — Johann Wolfgang von Goethe · 1808 The deed is all, the glory nothing. — Johann Wolfgang von Goethe · 1832 Two souls dwell, alas! in my breast. — Johann Wolfgang von Goethe · 1808 Man will err while yet he strives. — Johann Wolfgang von Goethe · 1808 All 14 quotes →

Aeschylus12 quotes

For he does not wish to appear the bravest, but to be the bravest. — Aeschylus · 467 BC For few there are among men in whom it is inborn to admire without envy a friend's good fortune. — Aeschylus · 458 BC Zeus, author of all, worker of all! For what is brought to pass for mortal men save by will of Zeus? What herein is not wrought of god? — Aeschylus · 458 BC Justice inclines her scales so that wisdom comes at the price of suffering. — Aeschylus · 458 BC Neither anarchy nor tyranny—this I counsel my citizens to support and respect, and not to drive fear wholly out of the city. For who among mortals, if he fears nothing, is righteous? — Aeschylus · 458 BC For where is goodwill greater than from guest to host? — Aeschylus · 458 BC All 12 quotes →

Moliere11 quotes

One is easily fooled by that which one loves. — Moliere · 1669 He who lives without tobacco is not worthy to live. — Moliere · 1665 It is public scandal that constitutes offence, and to sin in secret is not to sin at all. — Moliere · 1669 Ah, it's a lovely thing, to know a thing or two. — Moliere · 1671 Of all human follies there's none could be greater Than trying to render our fellow-men better. — Moliere · 1666 We only die once, and for such a long time! — Moliere · 1656 All 11 quotes →

Euripides9 quotes

Mere cleverness is not wisdom. — Euripides · 405 BC Leave no stone unturned. — Euripides · 430 BC My tongue swore, but my mind's unsworn. — Euripides · 428 BC There is one thing alone that stands the brunt of life throughout its course: a quiet conscience. — Euripides · 428 BC Love distills desire upon the eyes, love brings bewitching grace into the heart of those he would destroy. I pray that love may never come to me with murderous intent, in rhythms measureless and wild. Not fire nor stars have stronger bolts than those of Aphrodite sent by the hand of Eros, Zeus' child. — Euripides · 428 BC Never shall I say that marriage brings more joy than pain. — Euripides · 438 BC All 9 quotes →

Terence9 quotes

Fortune assists the brave. — Terence · 161 BC He is wise who tries everything before arms. — Terence · 161 BC Nothing is so difficult but that it may be found out by seeking. — Terence · 163 BC There is nothing so easy but that it becomes difficult when you do it reluctantly. — Terence · 163 BC Nothing has yet been said that's not been said before. — Terence · 161 BC There are vicissitudes in all things. — Terence · 161 BC All 9 quotes →

John Dryden8 quotes

Pains of love be sweeter far Than all other pleasures are. — John Dryden · 1669 Death in itself is nothing, but we fear To be we know not what, we know not where. — John Dryden · 1675 There is a pleasure sure, In being mad, which none but madmen know! — John Dryden · 1680 Dead men tell no tales. — John Dryden · 1680 For secrets are edg'd Tools, And must be kept from Children and from Fools. — John Dryden · 1667 I am as free as nature first made man, Ere the base laws of servitude began, When wild in woods the noble savage ran. — John Dryden · 1670 All 8 quotes →

William Congreve7 quotes

Heav'n has no Rage, like Love to Hatred turn'd, Nor Hell a Fury, like a Woman scorn'd. — William Congreve · 1697 Courtship to marriage, as a very witty prologue to a very dull play. — William Congreve · 1693 Women are like tricks by sleight of hand, Which, to admire, we should not understand. — William Congreve · 1695 I know that's a secret, for it's whispered everywhere. — William Congreve · 1695 Eternity was in that moment. — William Congreve · 1693 True, 'tis an unhappy circumstance of life that love should ever die before us, and that the Man so often should outlive the Lover. But say what you will, 'tis better to be left than never to have been loved. — William Congreve · 1700 All 7 quotes →

Aristophanes6 quotes

The old are in a second childhood. — Aristophanes · 423 BC Mankind, fleet of life, like tree leaves, weak creatures of clay, unsubstantial as shadows, wingless, ephemeral, wretched, mortal and dreamlike. — Aristophanes · 424 BC These impossible women! How they do get around us! The poet was right: can't live with them, or without them! — Aristophanes · 411 BC When men drink, then they are rich and successful and win lawsuits and are happy and help their friends. Quickly, bring me a beaker of wine, so that I may wet my mind and say something clever. — Aristophanes · 424 BC A woman's time of opportunity is short, and if she doesn't seize it, no one wants to marry her, and she sits watching for omens. — Aristophanes · 414 BC You have all the characteristics of a popular politician: a horrible voice, bad breeding and a vulgar manner. — Aristophanes · 424 BC

Ben Jonson6 quotes

Twas only fear first in the world made gods. — Ben Jonson · 1603 True happinesse Consists not in the multitude of friends, But in the worth, and choice. — Ben Jonson · 1600 Suns, that set, may rise again: But if, once, we lose this light, 'Tis with us perpetual night. — Ben Jonson · 1606 I glory More in the cunning purchase of my wealth, Than in the glad possession. — Ben Jonson · 1606 There shall be no love lost. — Ben Jonson · 1599 Calumnies are answered best with silence. — Ben Jonson · 1606

Henrik Ibsen6 quotes

The strongest man in the world is he who stands most alone. — Henrik Ibsen · 1882 What ought a man to be? Well, my short answer is "himself." — Henrik Ibsen · 1867 Look into any man's heart you please, and you will always find, in every one, at least one black spot which he has to keep concealed. — Henrik Ibsen · 1877 Castles in the air-they are so easy to take refuge in. And easy to build, too. — Henrik Ibsen · 1892 To crave for happiness in this world is simply to be possessed by a spirit of revolt. What right have we to happiness? — Henrik Ibsen · 1881 Take the life-lie away from the average man and straight away you take away his happiness. — Henrik Ibsen · 1884

Richard Brinsley Sheridan6 quotes

Certainly nothing is unnatural that is not physically impossible. — Richard Brinsley Sheridan · 1779 Tale-bearers are as bad as the tale-makers. — Richard Brinsley Sheridan · 1777 The number of those who undergo the fatigue of judging for themselves is very small indeed. — Richard Brinsley Sheridan · 1779 There is not a passion so strongly rooted in the human heart as envy. — Richard Brinsley Sheridan · 1779 Never say more than is necessary. — Richard Brinsley Sheridan · 1775 Be just before you're generous. — Richard Brinsley Sheridan · 1777

Anton Chekhov5 quotes

We shall find peace. We shall hear the angels, we shall see the sky sparkling with diamonds. — Anton Chekhov · 1898 Women can't forgive failure. — Anton Chekhov · 1896 If a lot of cures are suggested for a disease, it means that the disease is incurable. — Anton Chekhov · 1904 Man must work by the sweat of his brow whatever his class, and that should make up the whole meaning and purpose of his life and happiness and contentment. — Anton Chekhov · 1901 Forests keep disappearing, rivers dry up, wild life's become extinct, the climate's ruined and the land grows poorer and uglier every day. — Anton Chekhov · 1897

Friedrich Schiller5 quotes

Against stupidity the very gods Themselves contend in vain. — Friedrich Schiller · 1801 What's not forbidden to do make bold. — Friedrich Schiller · 1798 Who reflects too much will accomplish little. — Friedrich Schiller · 1804 It is wise to disclose what cannot be concealed. — Friedrich Schiller · 1787 Many a crown shines spotless now That yet was deeply sullied in the winning. — Friedrich Schiller · 1798

T.S. Eliot5 quotes

Success is relative: It is what we can make of the mess we have made of things. — T.S. Eliot · 1939 And the wind shall say: "Here were decent godless people: Their only monument the asphalt road And a thousand lost golf balls." — T.S. Eliot · 1934 Where is the wisdom we have lost in knowledge? Where is the knowledge we have lost in information? — T.S. Eliot · 1934 What is hell? Hell is oneself, Hell is alone, the other figures in it Merely projections. There is nothing to escape from And nothing to escape to. One is always alone. — T.S. Eliot · 1949 Yet we have gone on living, Living and partly living. — T.S. Eliot · 1935

Tom Stoppard5 quotes

War is capitalism with the gloves off. — Tom Stoppard · 1974 Life is a gamble at terrible odds-if it was a bet, you wouldn't take it. — Tom Stoppard · 1966 We cross our bridges as we come to them and burn them behind us, with nothing to show for our progress except a memory of the smell of smoke, and the presumption that once our eyes watered. — Tom Stoppard · 1966 Eternity is a terrible thought. I mean, where's it going to end? — Tom Stoppard · 1966 I'm with you on the free press. It's the newspapers I can't stand. — Tom Stoppard · 1978

Bertolt Brecht4 quotes

War is like love, it always finds a way. — Bertolt Brecht · 1939 No one can be good for long when goodness is not in demand. — Bertolt Brecht · 1943 Don't be afraid of death so much as an inadequate life. — Bertolt Brecht · 1931 Food comes first, then morals. — Bertolt Brecht · 1928

J.M. Barrie4 quotes

To die will be an awfully big adventure. — J.M. Barrie · 1904 Every time a child says, "I don't believe in fairies," there is a fairy somewhere that falls down dead. — J.M. Barrie · 1904 "If you believe," he shouted to them, "clap your hands; don't let Tink die." — J.M. Barrie · 1904 It's a sort of bloom on a woman. If you have it, you don't need to have anything else; and if you don't have it, it doesn't much matter what else you have. — J.M. Barrie · 1908

Tennessee Williams4 quotes

We're all of us sentenced to solitary confinement inside our own skins, for life. — Tennessee Williams · 1957 Mendacity is a system that we live in. Liquor is one way out and death's the other. — Tennessee Williams · 1955 We're all of us guinea pigs in the laboratory of God. Humanity is just a work in progress. — Tennessee Williams · 1953 We have to distrust each other. It's our only defense against betrayal. — Tennessee Williams · 1953

Christopher Marlowe3 quotes

Was this the face that launched a thousand ships, And burnt the topless towers of Ilium? Sweet Helen, make me immortal with a kiss! — Christopher Marlowe · 1593 I count religion but a childish toy, and hold there is no sin but ignorance. — Christopher Marlowe · 1593 Accurst be he that first invented war. — Christopher Marlowe · 1587

Jean Anouilh3 quotes

There is love, of course. And then there's life, its enemy. — Jean Anouilh · 1948 You know very well that love is, above all, the gift of oneself! — Jean Anouilh · 1948 God is on everyone's side…and, in the last analysis, he is on the side of those with plenty of money and large armies. — Jean Anouilh · 1952

Jean-Paul Sartre3 quotes

Hell is other people. — Jean-Paul Sartre · 1944 When the rich wage war it's the poor who die. — Jean-Paul Sartre · 1951 Human life begins on the far side of despair. — Jean-Paul Sartre · 1943

John Gay3 quotes

Youth's the season made for joys, Love is then our duty. — John Gay · 1728 Women and wine should life employ. Is there ought else on earth desirous? — John Gay · 1728 If the heart of a man is depressed with cares, The mist is dispelled when a woman appears. — John Gay · 1728

Pierre Corneille3 quotes

To conquer without risk is to triumph without glory. — Pierre Corneille · 1636 A service beyond all recompense Weighs so heavy that it almost gives offense. — Pierre Corneille · 1674 Do your duty, and leave the outcome to the Gods. — Pierre Corneille · 1640

Samuel Beckett3 quotes

You're on earth, there's no cure for that! — Samuel Beckett · 1957 They give birth astride of a grave, the light gleams an instant, then it's night once more. — Samuel Beckett · 1953 Let us pray to God... The bastard! He doesn't exist! — Samuel Beckett · 1957

Thornton Wilder3 quotes

The best part of married life is the fights. The rest is merely so-so. — Thornton Wilder · 1954 The morning star always gets wonderful bright the minute before it has to go, doesn't it? — Thornton Wilder · 1938 My advice to you is not to inquire into why or whither, but just enjoy your ice cream while it's on your plate-that's my philosophy. — Thornton Wilder · 1942

Edmond Rostand2 quotes

A great nose indicates a great man- Genial, courteous, intellectual, Virile, courageous. — Edmond Rostand · 1897 A large nose is in fact the sign of an affable man, good, courteous, witty, liberal, courageous, such as I am. — Edmond Rostand · 1897

Sourced and curated.