The Merchant of Venice/Quotes
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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, scene v
- There will come a Christian by,/Shall be worth a Jewess' eye.
- Launcelot Gobbo, scene v
- Fast bind, fast find.
- Shylock, scene v
Scene vi
- All things that are,
Are with more spirit chased than enjoy’d.
How like a younker, or a prodigal,
The scarfed bark puts from her native bay,
Hugg’d and embraced by the strumpet wind!
How like the prodigal doth she return,
With over-weather’d ribs and ragged sails,
Lean, rent, and beggar’d by the strumpet wind!- Gratiano, scene vi
- But love is blind, and lovers cannot see
The pretty follies that themselves commit.- Jessica, scene vi
- Must I hold a candle to my shames?
- Jessica, scene vi
- For she is wise, if I can judge of her,
And fair she is, if that mine eyes be true,
And true she is, as she hath proved herself,
And therefore, like herself, wise, fair and true,
Shall she be placed in my constant soul.- Lorenzo, scene vi
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:
Bassanio told him he would make some speed
Of his return: he answer'd, 'Do not so;
Slubber not business for my sake, Bassanio
But stay the very riping of the time;
And for the Jew's bond which he hath of me,
Let it not enter in your mind of love:
Be merry, and employ your chiefest thoughts
To courtship and such fair ostents of love
As shall conveniently become you there:'
And even there, his eye being big with tears,
Turning his face, he put his hand behind him,
And with affection wondrous sensible
He wrung Bassanio's hand; and so they parted.
Solanio: I think he only loves the world for him.- scene viii
Scene ix
- Even in the force and road of casualty.
- Prince of Arragon, scene ix
- The fire seven times tried this;
Seven times tried that judgment is,
That did never choose miss.
Some there be that shadow's kiss,
And have but a shadow's bliss.
There be fools alive, iwis,
Silver'd o'er, and so was this.
Take what wife you will to bed,
I will ever be your head:
So be gone; you are sped.- Prince of Arragon, reading Portia's note, scene ix
- Hanging and wiving goes by destiny.
- Nerissa, scene ix
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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