Hamlet

By William Shakespeare QUOTATION: Use almost can change the stamp of nature.
ATTRIBUTION: William Shakespeare (1564–1616), British dramatist, poet. Hamlet, in Hamlet, act 3, sc. 4, l. 168.

Proverbial; “stamp of nature” means innate characteristics.

QUOTATION: Use every man after his desert, and who should scape whipping?
Use them after your own honor and dignity—the less they deserve, the more merit is in your bounty.
ATTRIBUTION: William Shakespeare (1564–1616), British dramatist, poet. Hamlet, in Hamlet, act 2, sc. 2, l. 529-31.

Asking Polonius to deal well with the actors.

QUOTATION: Give me that man
That is not passion’s slave, and I will wear him
In my heart’s core, ay, in my heart of heart,
As I do thee.
ATTRIBUTION: William Shakespeare (1564–1616), British dramatist, poet. Hamlet, in Hamlet, act 3, sc. 2, l. 71-4.

Praising Horatio.

QUOTATION: The play’s the thing
Wherein I’ll catch the conscience of the King.
ATTRIBUTION: William Shakespeare (1564–1616), British dramatist, poet. Hamlet, in Hamlet, act 2, sc. 2, l. 605-6 (1604).

Referring to the performance of a play depicting his father’s murder, as described by the ghost, and the guilty reaction of King Claudius.

QUOTATION: Get thee to a nunnery. Why wouldst thou be a breeder of sinners?
ATTRIBUTION: William Shakespeare (1564–1616), British dramatist, poet. Hamlet, in Hamlet, act 3, sc. 1, l. 123-4 (1604).

Speaking to Ophelia. Hamlet’s reasoned thus: “I could accuse me of such things that it were better my mother had not borne me.... What should such fellows as I do crawling between heaven and earth? We are arrant knaves, all.”

QUOTATION: We are arrant knaves all, believe none of us.
ATTRIBUTION: William Shakespeare (1564–1616), British dramatist, poet. Hamlet, in Hamlet, act 3, sc. 1, l. 128.

In Hamlet’s anger against Ophelia he denounces all men.

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