Important Macbeth Quotes

• There's husbandry in heaven; Their candles are all out.

  William Shakespeare

  Heaven, Macbeth Sleep, Darkness In Macbeth

  'Macbeth' (1606) act 2, sc. 1, l. 4

  10 Copy quote

  Show source

• If it were done when 'tis done, then 'twere well. It were done quickly.

  William Shakespeare

  Witty, Done, Action

  'Macbeth' (1606) act 1, sc. 7, l. 1

  8 Copy quote

  Show source

• Yet do I fear thy nature; It is too full o' the milk of human kindness.

  William Shakespeare

  Kindness, Play, Lady Macbeth

  'Macbeth' (1606) act 1, sc. 5, l. [16]

  24 Copy quote

  Show source

• If chance will have me king, why, chance may crown me.

  William Shakespeare

  Kings, Lady Macbeth, Crowns

  The Complete Works of William Shakespeare Macbeth Act I, Scene 3, l. 143

  12 Copy quote

  Show source

• The instruments of darkness tell us truths.

  William Shakespeare

  Sad, Truth, Darkness

  'Macbeth' (1606) act 1, sc. 3, l. 123

  32 Copy quote

  Show source

• I have bought golden opinions from all sorts of people.

  William Shakespeare

  People, Lady Macbeth, Golden

  'Macbeth' (1606) act 1, sc. 7, l. 31

  10 Copy quote

  Show source

• When our actions do not, our fears make us traitors.

  William Shakespeare

  Inspirational, Our Actions, Brighten Your Day

  'Macbeth' (1606) act 4, sc. 2, l. 3

  24 Copy quote

  Show source

• Methought I heard a voice cry 'Sleep no more!
  Macbeth does murder sleep', the innocent sleep,
  Sleep that knits up the ravell'd sleeve of care,
  The death of each day's life, sore labour's bath,
  Balm of hurt minds, great nature's second course,
  Chief nourisher in life's feast...

  William Shakespeare

  Hurt, Sleep, Insomnia

  'Macbeth' (1606) act 2, sc. 2, l. 36

  18 Copy quote

  Show source

• Tis safter to be that which we destroy Than by destruction dwell in doubtful joy.

  William Shakespeare

  Joy, Lady Macbeth, Destruction

  William Shakespeare (2001). “The Tragedy of Macbeth”, p.150, Classic Books Company

  8 Copy quote

  Show source

• Stars hide your fires; let not light see my black and deep desires: The eyes wink at the hand; yet let that be which the eye fears, when it is done, to see

  William Shakespeare

  Stars, Eye, Fire

  William Shakespeare (2015). “Macbeth: Third Series”, p.152, Bloomsbury Publishing

  10 Copy quote

  Show source

• A little water clears us of this deed.

  William Shakespeare

  Water, Lady Macbeth, Deeds

  'Macbeth' (1606) act 2, sc. 2, l. 68

  52 Copy quote

  Show source

• Angels are bright still, though the brightest fell.

  William Shakespeare

  Angel, Brows, Macbeth Theme

  'Macbeth' (1606) act 4, sc. 3, l. 22

  18 Copy quote

  Show source

• That but this blow
  Might be the be-all and the end-all here,
  But here, upon this bank and shoal of time,
  We'ld jump the life to come.

  William Shakespeare

  Life, Blow, Lds

  'Macbeth' (1606) act 1, sc. 7, l. 1

  9 Copy quote

  Show source

• It will have blood, they say; blood will have blood.

  William Shakespeare

  Blood, Nature Of Evil, Macbeth Key

  'Macbeth' (1606) act 3, sc. 4, l. 122

  20 Copy quote

  Show source

• We fail!
  But screw your courage to the sticking-place,
  And we'll not fail.

  William Shakespeare

  Life, Encouraging, Courage

  'Macbeth' (1606) act 1, sc. 7, l. 54

  57 Copy quote

  Show source

• Bloody instructions, which, being taught, return to plague the inventor.

  William Shakespeare

  Return, Taught, Instruction

  'Macbeth' (1606) act 1, sc. 7, l. 1

  10 Copy quote

  Show source

• If you can look into the seeds of time, and say which grain will grow and which will not, speak then unto me.

  William Shakespeare

  Time, Future, Knowledge

  'Macbeth' (1606) act 1, sc. 3, l. 58

  11 Copy quote

  Show source

• Fair is foul, and foul is fair, hover through fog and filthy air.

  William Shakespeare

  Fog, Air, Hovering

  William Shakespeare, Alexander Pope, Nicholas Rowe (1723). “The works of Shakespear: In six volumes”, p.517

  114 Copy quote

  Show source

• Look like the innocent flower, But be the serpent under it.

  William Shakespeare

  Flower, Advice, Lady Macbeth

  'Macbeth' (1606) act 1, sc. 5, l. [63]

  64 Copy quote

  Show source

• So foul and fair a day I have not seen.

  William Shakespeare

  Foul, Darkness In Macbeth, Macbeth Theme

  'Macbeth' (1606) act 1, sc. 3, l. 38

  10 Copy quote

  Show source
• 

  Double, double, toil and trouble; Fire burn, and cauldron bubble!

  William Shakespeare

  Halloween, Memorable, Play

  'Macbeth' (1606) act 4, sc. 1, l. 4

  103 Copy quote

  Show source

• Is this a dagger which I see before me, The handle toward my hand?

  William Shakespeare

  Character, Hands, Play

  'Macbeth' (1606) act 2, sc. 1, l. 33

  26 Copy quote

  Show source

• Out, out, brief candle! Life's but a walking shadow.

  William Shakespeare

  Futility Of Life, Play, Life And Death

  'Macbeth' (1606) act 5, sc. 5, l. 16

  95 Copy quote

  Show source

• It is a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury; signifying nothing.

  William Shakespeare

  Life, Death, Play

  'Macbeth' (1606) act 5, sc. 5, l. 16

  98 Copy quote

  Show source

• Life's but a walking shadow, a poor player, that struts and frets his hour upon the stage, and then is heard no more; it is a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing.

  William Shakespeare

  Inspirational, Life, Success

  'Macbeth' (1606) act 5, sc. 5, l. 16

  274 Copy quote

  Show source