Romeo and Juliet quotes

Two houses both alike….

In dignity

From ancient grudge

Break to new mutiny

Where civil blood

Makes civil hands unclean

Which but their children’s

End nought could remove

The quarrel is between our masters and us their men

This line indicates that the ongoing conflict is not just personal but rooted in the disputes of their employers, reflecting the broader implications of the feud.

Do you bite your thumb at us sir?

This line from Act 1, Scene 1, is a provocative gesture of disrespect, highlighting the themes of honor and conflict between the Montagues and Capulets.

Talk of peace? I hate the word

as I hate hell, all Montagues, and thee.

What noise is this? Give me my long sword (lord capulet)

This line expresses Lord Capulet's frustration and desire to engage in the brawl, showcasing his fiery temperament and the escalation of the feud.

Profaners of this neighbour- stained steel. Will they not hear?

Spoken by Prince Escalus, this line reflects his deep frustration and exasperation with the recurring violence between the Montague and Capulet families. The phrase "profaners of this neighbour-stained steel" refers to those who desecrate their weapons by using them against fellow citizens, causing bloodshed and disrupting the peace of Verona. The rhetorical question "Will they not hear?" underscores the Prince's disbelief and anger that his decrees for peace are continually ignored, highlighting the destructive and all-encompassing nature of the feud that affects the entire city.

Cankered with peace to part your cankered hate

This line expresses the idea that peace should heal the deep-rooted hatred between the Montagues and Capulets, suggesting that reconciliation is necessary to overcome their longstanding feud.

If ever you disturb our streets again, your lives shall pay the forfeit of the peace

This powerful declaration, spoken by Prince Escalus in Act 1, Scene 1, immediately after a violent street brawl involving the Montagues and Capulets, serves as a stern warning and an ultimatum from Verona's highest authority. Exasperated by the recurring violence that has 'thrice disturbed the quiet of our streets,' the Prince explicitly decrees that any future public disturbance by either family will result in the execution of those involved. The phrase 'your lives shall pay the forfeit of the peace' signifies that death will be the penalty for violating the city's peace. This threat underscores the severe civic disruption and bloodshed caused by the long-standing feud, highlighting the desperate measures the Prince is willing to take to restore order. It also sets a grave and ominous tone for the play, establishing the ultimate, deadly consequences of the families' ongoing hatred, a decree that tragically foreshadows the deaths of Romeo and Juliet.