The collection / 1,653 fragments

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Passages, proverbs, and questions carried across the ages.

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1,653 results · Page 27 of 69Play this collection ▷

01c. 1590 AD

Thy wish was father, Harry, to that thought.

William Shakespeare / quote

Meaning: Someone's belief may have been produced by what they want to be true, rather than by good evidence that it is true.

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02c. 1590 AD

Commit The oldest sins the newest kind of ways.

William Shakespeare / quote

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03c. 1590 AD

A joint of mutton, and any pretty little tiny kickshaws, tell William cook.

William Shakespeare / quote

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04c. 1590 AD

His cares are now all ended.

William Shakespeare / quote

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05c. 1590 AD

Falstaff. What wind blew you hither, Pistol? Pistol. Not the ill wind which blows no man to good.

William Shakespeare / quote

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06c. 1590 AD

A foutre for the world and worldlings base! I speak of Africa and golden joys.

William Shakespeare / quote

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07c. 1590 AD

Under which king, Bezonian? speak, or die!

William Shakespeare / quote

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08c. 1590 AD

O for a Muse of fire, that would ascend The brightest heaven of invention!

William Shakespeare / quote

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09c. 1590 AD

Consideration, like an angel, came And whipped the offending Adam out of him.

William Shakespeare / quote

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10c. 1590 AD

Turn him to any cause of policy, The Gordian knot of it he will unloose, Familiar as his garter: that when he speaks, The air, a chartered libertine, is still.

William Shakespeare / quote

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11c. 1590 AD

Base is the slave that pays.

William Shakespeare / quote

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12c. 1590 AD

Even at the turning o' the tide.

William Shakespeare / quote

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13c. 1590 AD

His nose was as sharp as a pen, and a' babbled of green fields.

William Shakespeare / quote

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14c. 1590 AD

Self-love, my liege, is not so vile a sin As self-neglecting.

William Shakespeare / quote

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15c. 1590 AD

Once more unto the breach, dear friends, once more, Or close the wall up with our English dead! In peace there 's nothing so becomes a man As modest stillness and humility; But when the blast of war blows in our ears, Then imitate the action of the tiger: Stiffen the sinews, summon up the blood.

William Shakespeare / quote

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16c. 1590 AD

And sheathed their swords for lack of argument.

William Shakespeare / quote

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17c. 1590 AD

I see you stand like greyhounds in the slips, Straining upon the start.

William Shakespeare / quote

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18c. 1590 AD

I would give all my fame for a pot of ale and safety.

William Shakespeare / quote

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19c. 1590 AD

Men of few words are the best men.

William Shakespeare / quote

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20c. 1590 AD

I thought upon one pair of English legs Did march three Frenchmen.

William Shakespeare / quote

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21c. 1590 AD

You may as well say, that 's a valiant flea that dare eat his breakfast on the lip of a lion.

William Shakespeare / quote

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22c. 1590 AD

The hum of either army stilly sounds, That the fixed sentinels almost receive The secret whispers of each other's watch; Fire answers fire, and through their paly flames Each battle sees the other's umbered face; Steed threatens steed, in high and boastful neighs Piercing the night's dull ear, and from the tents The armourers, accomplishing the knights, With busy hammers closing rivets up, Give dreadful note of preparation.

William Shakespeare / quote

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23c. 1590 AD

There is some soul of goodness in things evil, Would men observingly distil it out.

William Shakespeare / quote

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24c. 1590 AD

Every subject's duty is the king's; but every subject's soul is his own.

William Shakespeare / quote

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