King Lear Quotes

Unhappy that I am, I cannot heave my heart into my mouth. – King Lear

As flies to wanton boys, are we to the gods. They kill us for their sport. – Gloucester

How sharper than a serpent’s tooth it is to have a thankless child! – King Lear

I am a man more sinned against than sinning. – King Lear

The gods are just, and of our pleasant vices make instruments to plague us. – Edgar

When we are born, we cry that we are come to this great stage of fools. – King Lear

Love’s not love when it is mingled with regards that stand aloof from the entire point. – King Lear

Men must endure their going hence, even as their coming thither: Ripeness is all. – Edgar

This is the excellent foppery of the world, that, when we are sick in fortune, often the surfeits of our own behaviour, we make guilty of our disasters the sun, the moon, and the stars. – Edgar

The worst is not so long as we can say ‘this is the worst.’ – Edgar

Get thee glass eyes and, like a scurvy politician, seem to see the things thou dost not. – King Lear

O, reason not the need! Our basest beggars are in the poorest thing superfluous. – King Lear

Tis times’ plague, when madmen lead the blind. – Gloucester

I am tied to the stake, and I must stand the course. – Lear

Allow not nature more than nature needs, man’s life is cheap as beast’s. – Lear

Thou shouldst not have been old till thou hadst been wise. – Fool

Howl, howl, howl, howl! O, you are men of stones! – Lear

The art of our necessities is strange, that can make vile things precious. – Lear

Thou art a soul in bliss; but I am bound upon a wheel of fire. – Lear

O, reason not the need: our basest beggars are in the poorest thing superfluous. Allow not nature more than nature needs, man’s life is as cheap as beast’s. – Lear

I am a man more sinned against than sinning. – Lear

So distribution should undo excess, and each man have enough. – Lear

Love cools, friendship falls off, brothers divide. – Lear

When we are born, we cry that we are come to this great stage of fools. – Lear

You heavens, give me that patience, patience I need! – Lear

Blow, winds, and crack your cheeks! Rage, blow! – Lear

Down from the waist they are Centaurs, though women all above.” – Lear

Give me the map there. Know that we have divided In three our kingdom, and ’tis our fast intent To shake all cares and business from our age, Conferring them on younger strengths while we Unburdened crawl toward death. – Lear

Who is it that can tell me who I am? – Lear

My wits begin to turn. – Lear

Nothing can come of nothing. – Lear

Howe’er thou art a fiend, a woman’s shape doth shield thee. – Lear

Thou spoke to me of pigs, almost as if they were men. – Lear

But let not fawning nor proud airs of favor pinch the grounded tucker. – Lear

Free as the north wind shall I seem as pure. – Lear

Upon such sacrifices, my Cordelia, the gods themselves throw incense. – Lear

The worst is not so long as we can say ‘This is the worst.’ – Lear

O Lear, Lear, Lear! Beat at this gate, that let thy folly in, and thy dear judgment out. – Fool

I am a man more sinned against than sinning. – Lear

Thou art a soul in bliss; but I am bound upon a wheel of fire.

I am a very foolish fond old man.

I stumbled when I saw.

The knave turns fool that runs away: The fool no knave, perdy.

We, that are young, shall never see so much, nor live so long.

The weight of this sad time we must obey.