William Shakespeare Action Quotations

Fear not, Cesario, take thy fortunes up. Be that thou know'st thou art and then thou art as great as that thou fear'st.

Suit the action to the world, the world to the action, with this special observance, that you overstep not the modesty of nature.

The expense of spirit in a waste of shameIs lust in action.

What a piece of work is a man! How noble in reason, how infinite in faculty, in form and moving how express and admirable, in action how like an angel, in apprehension how like a god -- the beauty of the world, the paragon of animals!

In the corrupted currents of this word offence's gilded hand may solve by justice, and oft, tis seen the wicked prize itself buys out the law: but 'tis not so above; There is no shuffling, there the action lies in his true nature; And we ourselves

When our actions do not, Our fears do make us traitors

For I have neither wit, nor words, nor worth, action nor utterance, nor the power of speech, to stir men's blood. I only speak right on. I tell you that which you yourselves do know.

In peace there's nothing so becomes a manAs modest stillness and humility;But when the blast of war blows in our ears,Then imitate the action of the tiger:Stiffen the sinews, summon up the blood,Then lend the eye a terrible aspect;Now set the teeth, and stretch the nostril wide,Hold hard the breath, and bend up every spiritTo his full height!

Equality of two domestic powers Breeds scrupulous faction.

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

I had rather eleven died nobly for their country than one voluptuously surfeit out of action.

Virtue is bold, and goodness never fearful.

Pleasure and action make the hours seem short.

The rarer action isIn virtue than in vengeance.

Virtue itself turns vice, being misapplied, And vice sometime by action dignified.

The rarer action is in virtue than in vengeance.

When faced with a sea of troubles, take action, and in so doing end it.

A woman's thought runs before her actions.

We must not stint Our necessary actions in the fear To cope malicious censurers, which ever, As rav'nous fishes, do a vessel follow That is new-trimmed, but benefit no further Than vainly longing.

Hold, or cut bowstrings.

I profess not talking: only this, Let each man do his best.

Be not too tame neither, but let your own Discretion be your tutor; suit the action to the word, the word to the action.

Strong reasons make strong actions let us go If you say ay, the king will not say no.

ROSS You must have patience, madam. LADY MACDUFF He had none: His flight was madness: when our actions do not, Our fears do make us traitors.