Hamlet

by William Shakespeare

Give every man thine ear, but few thy voice: Take each man's censure, but reserve thy judgment.

Neither a borrower nor a lender be: For loan oft loses both itself and friend; And borrowing dulls the edge of husbandry. This above all,--to thine own self be true; And it must follow, as the night the day, Thou canst not then be false to any man.

He waxes desperate with imagination. Mar. Let's follow; 'tis not fit thus to obey him. Hor. Have after.--To what issue will this come? Mar. Something is rotten in the state of Denmark.

Murder most foul, as in the best it is; But this most foul, strange, and unnatural.

'Tis given out that, sleeping in my orchard, A serpent stung me; so the whole ear of Denmark Is by a forged process of my death Rankly abus'd; but know, thou noble youth, The serpent that did sting thy father's life Now wears his crown.

There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, Than are dreamt of in your philosophy.

for there is nothing either good or bad but thinking makes it so: to me it is a prison.

What a piece of work is man! How noble in reason! how infinite in faculties! in form and moving, how express and admirable!

I'll have these players Play something like the murder of my father Before mine uncle: I'll observe his looks; I'll tent him to the quick: if he but blench, I know my course. The spirit that I have seen May be the devil: and the devil hath power To assume a pleasing shape; yea, and perhaps Out of my weakness and my melancholy,-- As he is very potent with such spirits,-- Abuses me to damn me: I'll have grounds More relative than this.--the play's the thing Wherein I'll catch the conscience of the king.

To be, or not to be,--that is the question:-- Whether 'tis nobler in the mind to suffer The slings and arrows of outrageous fortune

Or, if thou wilt needs marry, marry a fool; for wise men know well enough what monsters you make of them.

The lady protests too much, methinks.

My words fly up, my thoughts remain below: Words without thoughts never to heaven go.

Now cracks a noble heart.--Good night, sweet prince, And flights of angels sing thee to thy rest!