The Merchant of Venice/Quotes
Quotes from the play
Act I
Scene i
In sooth, I know not why I am so sad. —Antonio
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My ventures are not in one bottom trusted, —Antonio
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Now, by two-headed Janus, —Salarino
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Though Nestor swear the jest be laughable. —Salarino
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You have too much respect upon the world: —Gratiano
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Antonio: I hold the world but as the world, Gratiano; |
Why should a man whose blood is warm within, —Gratiano
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There are a sort of men, whose visages —Gratiano
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I do know of these, —Gratiano
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Fish not with this melancholy bait, —Gratiano
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Gratiano speaks an infinite deal of nothing, more than any man in all Venice. His reasons are as two grains of wheat hid in two bushels of chaff: you shall seek all day ere you find them; and when you have them, they are not worth the search. —Bassanio
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In my school-days, when I had lost one shaft, —Bassanio
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In Belmont is a lady richly left; —Bassanio
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Her sunny locks —Bassanio
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Scene ii
They are as sick that surfeit with too much, as they that starve with nothing. It is no mean happiness, therefore, to be seated in the mean; superfluity comes sooner by white hairs, but competency lives longer. —Nerissa
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If to do were as easy as to know what were good to do, chapels had been churches, and poor men’s cottages princes’ palaces. —Portia
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The brain may devise laws for the blood; but a hot temper leaps o’er a cold decree. —Portia
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He doth nothing but talk of his horse. —Portia
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God made him, and therefore let him pass for a man. —Portia
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When he is best, he is a little worse than a man; and when he is worst, he is little better than a beast. —Portia
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I dote on his very absence. —Portia
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Scene iii
My meaning in saying he is a good man, is, to have you understand me that he is sufficient. —Shylock
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Ships are but boards, sailors but men: there be land-rats and water-rats, water-thieves and land-thieves. —Shylock
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I will buy with you, sell with you, talk with you, walk with you, and so following; but I will not eat with you, drink with you, nor pray with you. —Shylock
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If I can catch him once upon the hip, —Shylock
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The devil can cite scripture for his purpose. —Antonio
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Signior Antonio, many a time and oft —Shylock
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For when did friendship take —Antonio
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O father Abram! what these Christians are, —Shylock
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I like not fair terms and a villain's mind. —Bassanio
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Act II
Scene i
Mislike me not for my complexion, —Prince of Morocco
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Scene ii
An honest exceeding poor man. —Old Gobbo
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The young gentleman (according to Fates and Destinies and such odd sayings, the Sisters Three, and such branches of learning) is, indeed, deceased; or, as you would say in plain terms, gone to heaven. —Launcelot Gobbo
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The very staff of my age, my very prop. —Old Gobbo
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It is a wise father that knows his own child. —Launcelot Gobbo
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Truth will come to light; murder cannot be hid long; a man's son may; but, in the end, truth will out. —Launcelot Gobbo
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In the twinkling of an eye. —Launcelot Gobbo
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But hear thee, Gratiano; —Bassiano
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Scene iv
I know the hand: in faith, 'tis a fair hand; —Lorenzo
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Scene v
The vile squeaking of the wry-necked fife. —Shylock
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There will come a Christian by, —Launcelot Gobbo
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Fast bind, fast find. —Shylock
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Scene vi
All things that are, —Gratiano
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But love is blind, and lovers cannot see —Jessica
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Must I hold a candle to my shames? —Jessica
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For she is wise, if I can judge of her, —Lorenzo
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Scene vii
All that glisters is not gold, —Prince of Morocco, reading Portia's note
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Scene viii
Salerino: I saw Bassanio and Antonio part: |
Scene ix
Even in the force and road of casualty. —Prince of Arragon
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The fire seven times tried this; —Prince of Arragon, reading Portia's note
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Hanging and wiving goes by destiny. —Nerissa
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Act IV
Scene i
A harmless necessary cat. —Shylock
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If you deny me, fie upon your law! —Shylock
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I am a tainted wether of the flock, —Antonio
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I never knew so young a body with so old a head. —Clerk
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The quality of mercy is not strain'd, —Portia
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A Daniel come to judgment! yea, a Daniel! —Shylock
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Shylock: Is it so nominated in the bond? |
Commend me to your honorable wife. —Antonio
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This bond doth give thee here no jot of blood; —Portia
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An upright judge, a learned judge! —Gratiano
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A second Daniel, a Daniel, Jew! —Gratiano
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A Daniel, still say I; a second Daniel! — —Gratiano
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Nay, take my life and all; pardon not that; —Shylock
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He is well paid that is well satisfied. —Portia
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Act V
Scene i
How sweet the moonlight sleeps upon this bank! —Lorenzo
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I am never merry when I hear sweet music. —Jessica
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The man that hath no music in himself, —Lorenzo
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How far that little candle throws his beams! —Portia
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How many things by season season’d are —Portia
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This night, methinks, is but the daylight sick. —Portia
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These blessed candles of the night. —Bassanio
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Fair ladies, you drop manna in the way —Lorenzo
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We will answer all things faithfully. —Portia
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