The passages of Shakespeare that we most prize were never quoted
until within this century.
- read more

The passages of Shakespeare that we most prize were never quoted
until within this century.
- Ralph Waldo Emerson,

The lunatic, the lover, and the poet Are of imagination all compact: One sees more devils than vast hell can read more

The lunatic, the lover, and the poet Are of imagination all compact: One sees more devils than vast hell can hold, That is, the madman: the lover, all as frantic, Sees Helen's beauty in a brow of Egypt: The poet's eye, in a fine frenzy rolling, Doth glance from heaven to earth, from earth to heaven; And as imagination bodies forth The forms of things unknown, the poet's pen Turns them to shapes, and gives to airy nothing A local habitation and a name. Such tricks hath strong imagination, That if it would but apprehend some joy, It comprehends some bringer of that joy; Or in the night, imagining some fear, How easy is a bush supposed a bear! -A Midsummer Night's Dream. Act v. Sc. 1.

If I say that Shakespeare is the greatest of intellects, I have
said all concerning him. But there is read more

If I say that Shakespeare is the greatest of intellects, I have
said all concerning him. But there is more in Shakespeare's
intellect than we have yet seen. It is what I call an
unconscious intellect; there is more virtue in it that he himself
is aware of.

And men sit down to that nourishment which is called supper. -Love's Labour 's Lost. Act i. Sc. 1.

And men sit down to that nourishment which is called supper. -Love's Labour 's Lost. Act i. Sc. 1.

Praising what is lost Makes the remembrance dear. -All 's Well that Ends Well. Act v. Sc. 3.

Praising what is lost Makes the remembrance dear. -All 's Well that Ends Well. Act v. Sc. 3.

Wherefore are these things hid? -Twelfth Night. Act i. Sc. 3.

Wherefore are these things hid? -Twelfth Night. Act i. Sc. 3.

With foreheads villanous low. -The Tempest. Act iv. Sc. 1.

With foreheads villanous low. -The Tempest. Act iv. Sc. 1.

Priscian! a little scratched, 't will serve. -Love's Labour 's Lost. Act v. Sc. 1.

Priscian! a little scratched, 't will serve. -Love's Labour 's Lost. Act v. Sc. 1.

If to do were as easy as to know what were good to do, chapels had been churches, and poor read more

If to do were as easy as to know what were good to do, chapels had been churches, and poor men's cottages princes' palaces. -The Merchant of Venice. Act i. Sc. 2.