ACT/SCENE King Lear Quotes

"My old heart is cracked; it's cracked"

Act II, scene I

"That nature, which contemns its origin, cannot be bordered certain in itself"

Act IV, scene II

"No, no, no life? Why should a dog, a horse, a rat have life, and thou no breath at all?"

Act V, scene III

"Go to, go to. Better thou hadst not been born than not t' have pleased me better."

Act I, scene I

"And here's another, whose warped looks proclaim what store her heart is made on."

Act III, scene VI

"My father watches. O sir, fly this place. Intelligence is given where you are hid. You have now the good advantage of the night"

Act II, scene I

"Dear daughter, I confess that I am old. Age is unnecessary. On my knees I beg that you'll vouchsafe me raiment, bed, and food."

Act II, scene IV

"I will preserve myself, and am bethought to take the basest and most poorest shape that ever penury in contempt of man brought near to beast."

Act II, scene III

"Poor Turlygod!" "Poor Tom!" - That's something yet. Edgar I nothing am."

Act II, scene III

"Tis the time's plague when madmen lead the blind."

Act IV, scene I

"Whose age has charms in it, whose title more - to pluck the common bosom on his side"

Act V, scene III

"Nothing will come of nothing"

Act I, scene I

"Old fools are babes again"

Act I, scene III

"What wouldst thou do, old man? Think'st thou that duty shall have dread to speak when power to flattery bows? To plainness honour's bound when majesty falls to folly. Reserve thy state, and in thy best consideration check this hideous rashness."

Act I, scene I

"Thou shouldst not have been old till thou hadst been wise."

Act I, scene V

"Pray, do not mock me. I am a very foolish fond old man, fourscore and upward, not an hour more nor less. And to deal plainly I fear I am not in my perfect mind."

Act IV, scene VII

"My face I'll grime with filth, Blanket my loins, elf all my hair in knots, And with presented nakedness outface The winds and persecutions of the sky."

Act II, scene III

"Unaccommodated man is no more but such a poor, bare, forked animal as thou art."

Act III, scene IV

"Allow not nature more than nature needs, Man's life's as cheap as beast's. Thou art a lady. If only to go warm were gorgeous, Why, nature needs not what thou gorgeous wear'st, Which scarcely keeps thee warm."

Act II, scene IV

“Blow, winds, and crack your cheeks! Rage, blow!”

Act III, scene II

“As flies to wanton boys are we to th' gods. They kill us for their sport.”

Act IV, scene I

“Say, if I do? The laws are mine, not thine. Who can arraign me for ’t?”

Act V, scene III

“If wolves had at thy gate howled that stern time, thou shouldst have said, “good porter, turn the key.””

Act III, scene VII

“The tyranny of the open night’s too rough for nature to endure.”

Act III, scene IV

“Thou’st spoken right. 'Tis true. The wheel is come full circle. I am here.”

Act V, scene III