Over 40,000 Famous Quotes Sorted By Topic and Author

In law, what plea so tainted and corrupt But being season'd with a gracious voice Obscures the show of evil? -The Merchant of Venice. Act iii. Sc. 2.

There is no vice so simple but assumes Some mark of virtue in his outward parts. -The Merchant of Venice. Act iii. Sc. 2.

Thus ornament is but the guiled shore To a most dangerous sea. -The Merchant of Venice. Act iii. Sc. 2.

The seeming truth which cunning times put on To entrap the wisest. -The Merchant of Venice. Act iii. Sc. 2.

An unlesson'd girl, unschool'd, unpractised; Happy in this, she is not yet so old But she may learn. -The Merchant of Venice. Act iii. Sc. 2.

Here are a few of the unpleasant'st words That ever blotted paper! -The Merchant of Venice. Act iii. Sc. 2.

The kindest man, The best-condition'd and unwearied spirit In doing courtesies. -The Merchant of Venice. Act iii. Sc. 2.

Thus when I shun Scylla, your father, I fall into Charybdis, your mother. -The Merchant of Venice. Act iii. Sc. 5.

Let it serve for table-talk. -The Merchant of Venice. Act iii. Sc. 5.

A harmless necessary cat. -The Merchant of Venice. Act iv. Sc. 1.

What! wouldst thou have a serpent sting thee twice? -The Merchant of Venice. Act iv. Sc. 1.

I am a tainted wether of the flock, Meetest for death: the weakest kind of fruit Drops earliest to the ground. -The Merchant of Venice. Act iv. Sc. 1.

I never knew so young a body with so old a head. -The Merchant of Venice. Act iv. Sc. 1.

The quality of mercy is not strain'd, It droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven Upon the place beneath. It is twice blest: It blesseth him that gives and him that takes. 'T is mightiest in the mightiest: it becomes The throned monarch better than his crown; His sceptre shows the force of temporal power, The attribute to awe and majesty, Wherein doth sit the dread and fear of kings; But mercy is above this sceptred sway, It is enthroned in the hearts of kings, It is an attribute to God himself; And earthly power doth then show likest God's, When mercy seasons justice. Therefore, Jew, Though justice be thy plea, consider this, That in the course of justice none of us Should see salvation: we do pray for mercy; And that same prayer doth teach us all to render The deeds of mercy. -The Merchant of Venice. Act iv. Sc. 1.

A Daniel come to judgment! yea, a Daniel! -The Merchant of Venice. Act iv. Sc. 1.

Is it so nominated in the bond? -The Merchant of Venice. Act iv. Sc. 1.

'T is not in the bond. -The Merchant of Venice. Act iv. Sc. 1.

Speak me fair in death. -The Merchant of Venice. Act iv. Sc. 1.

An upright judge, a learned judge! -The Merchant of Venice. Act iv. Sc. 1.

A second Daniel, a Daniel, Jew! Now, infidel, I have you on the hip. -The Merchant of Venice. Act iv. Sc. 1.