Macbeth Quotes
Fair is foul, and foul is fair
—The witches' philosophy of life. he unseam'd him from the nave to the chops
—The bloody Sergeant's description of Macbeth's killing of the rebel Macdonwald.
What, can the devil speak true?
—Banquo's reaction when it turns out that Macbeth has been named Thane of Cawdor, as the witches predicted. Nothing in his life
Became him like the leaving it
—Malcolm's comment on the execution of the Thane of Cawdor, whose title was then given to Macbeth.
Let not light see my black and deep desires
—After being honored by King Duncan, Macbeth wrestles with his desire to murder him. Yet do I fear thy nature;
It is too full o' the milk of human kindness
To catch the nearest way.
—Lady Macbeth, after receiving her husband's letter about the witches' prophecy, expresses her fear that he isn't bad enough. Come, you spirits
That tend on mortal thoughts, unsex me here,
And fill me from the crown to the toe top-full
Of direst cruelty!
—Lady Macbeth, upon hearing that King Duncan is to stay the night in her castle, pumps herself up to kill him. 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
—Macbeth, thinking about murdering Duncan, tries to think if there is a way to evade the consequences.
I have given suck, and know
How tender 'tis to love the babe that milks me:
I would, while it was smiling in my face,
Have pluck'd my nipple from his boneless gums,
And dash'd the brains out, had I so sworn as you
Have done to this.
—Lady Macbeth heaps scorn on Macbeth's declaration that they will "proceed no further" with the plan to murder King Duncan.
But screw your courage to the sticking-place,
And we'll not fail.
—Lady Macbeth challenges Macbeth to commit to the plan to murder King Duncan. Bring forth men-children only;
For thy undaunted mettle should compose
Nothing but males.
—The witches' philosophy of life. he unseam'd him from the nave to the chops
—The bloody Sergeant's description of Macbeth's killing of the rebel Macdonwald.
What, can the devil speak true?
—Banquo's reaction when it turns out that Macbeth has been named Thane of Cawdor, as the witches predicted. Nothing in his life
Became him like the leaving it
—Malcolm's comment on the execution of the Thane of Cawdor, whose title was then given to Macbeth.
Let not light see my black and deep desires
—After being honored by King Duncan, Macbeth wrestles with his desire to murder him. Yet do I fear thy nature;
It is too full o' the milk of human kindness
To catch the nearest way.
—Lady Macbeth, after receiving her husband's letter about the witches' prophecy, expresses her fear that he isn't bad enough. Come, you spirits
That tend on mortal thoughts, unsex me here,
And fill me from the crown to the toe top-full
Of direst cruelty!
—Lady Macbeth, upon hearing that King Duncan is to stay the night in her castle, pumps herself up to kill him. 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
—Macbeth, thinking about murdering Duncan, tries to think if there is a way to evade the consequences.
I have given suck, and know
How tender 'tis to love the babe that milks me:
I would, while it was smiling in my face,
Have pluck'd my nipple from his boneless gums,
And dash'd the brains out, had I so sworn as you
Have done to this.
—Lady Macbeth heaps scorn on Macbeth's declaration that they will "proceed no further" with the plan to murder King Duncan.
But screw your courage to the sticking-place,
And we'll not fail.
—Lady Macbeth challenges Macbeth to commit to the plan to murder King Duncan. Bring forth men-children only;
For thy undaunted mettle should compose
Nothing but males.