Macbeth Quotes

Who says “Fair is foul, and foul is fair,” and what is its significance?

Witches, Act 1, Scene 1. Introduces appearance vs reality

Who says “When shall we three meet again / In thunder, lightning, or in rain?” and what is the effect?

Witches, Act 1, Scene 1. Sets ominous, supernatural tone

Who says “So foul and fair a day I have not seen,” and why is it important?

Macbeth, Act 1, Scene 3. Links him to witches; shows contradiction

Who says “All hail, Macbeth! Hail to thee, Thane of Glamis! / Thane of Cawdor! / That shalt be king hereafter!” and what does it spark?

Witches, Act 1, Scene 3. Sparks Macbeth’s ambition

Who says “If chance will have me king, why, chance may crown me” and what does it reveal?

Macbeth, Act 1, Scene 3. Shows initial hesitation; fate vs action

Who says “The prince of Cumberland! That is a step / On which I must fall down, or else o’erleap” and what does it mean?

Macbeth, Act 1, Scene 4. Sees Malcolm as an obstacle

Who says “Stars, hide your fires; / Let not light see my black and deep desires” and what theme does it show?

Macbeth, Act 1, Scene 4. Concealing ambition

Who says “Yet I do fear thy nature; / It is too full o’ the milk of human kindness” and why?

Lady Macbeth, Act 1, Scene 5. Doubts Macbeth’s ruthlessness

Who says “Come, you spirits / That tend on mortal thoughts, unsex me here” and what is she asking for?

Lady Macbeth, Act 1, Scene 5. Calls for cruelty

Who says “Look like the innocent flower, / But be the serpent under’t” and what does it mean?

Lady Macbeth, Act 1, Scene 5. Appearance vs reality; manipulates Macbeth

Who says “If it were done when ’tis done, then ’twere well / It were done quickly” and what does it show?

Macbeth, Act 1, Scene 7. Debating killing Duncan

Who says “I have no spur / To prick the sides of my intent, but only / Vaulting ambition” and what is the significance?

Macbeth, Act 1, Scene 7. Ambition is driving force

Who sees a dagger before them and says “Is this a dagger which I see before me, / The handle toward my hand?”

Macbeth, Act 2, Scene 1. Hallucination before killing Duncan

Who says “I go, and it is done; the bell invites me” and what does it indicate?

Macbeth, Act 2, Scene 1. Resolute decision to kill Duncan

Who says “Will all great Neptune’s ocean wash this blood / Clean from my hand?” and what theme is shown?

Macbeth, Act 2, Scene 2. Overwhelming guilt

Who says “A little water clears us of this deed” and what is its meaning?

Lady Macbeth, Act 2, Scene 2. Contrasts Macbeth’s guilt

Who says “Methought I heard a voice cry ‘Sleep no more! / Macbeth does murder sleep.’” and why is it important?

Macbeth, Act 2, Scene 2. Psychological torment

Who says “O, full of scorpions is my mind, dear wife!” and what does it reveal?

Macbeth, Act 3, Scene 2. Anxiety, plotting Banquo’s murder

Who says “Things bad begun make strong themselves by ill” and why?

Macbeth, Act 3, Scene 2. Evil leads to more evil

Who says “We have scorched the snake, not killed it” and what does it mean?

Macbeth, Act 3, Scene 2. Banquo still a threat

Who says “Thou canst not say I did it; never shake / Thy gory locks at me” and what does it show?

Macbeth, Act 3, Scene 4. Haunted by Banquo’s ghost

Who says “By th’ pricking of my thumbs, / Something wicked this way comes” and why is it significant?

Second Witch, Act 4, Scene 1. Macbeth now fully “wicked”

Who says “Macbeth shall never vanquish’d be until / Great Birnam wood to high Dunsinane hill / Shall come against him” and what effect does it have?

Apparition (Witches), Act 4, Scene 1. False security; prophecy

Who says “From this moment / The very firstlings of my heart shall be / The firstlings of my hand” and what does it reveal?

Macbeth, Act 4, Scene 1. Becomes impulsive, ruthless

Who says “Out, damned spot! Out, I say!” and what does it show?

Lady Macbeth, Act 5, Scene 1. Guilt consumes her

Who says “Here’s the smell of the blood still: all the perfumes of Arabia will not sweeten this little hand” and why?

Lady Macbeth, Act 5, Scene 1. Psychological guilt

Who says “Tomorrow, and tomorrow, and tomorrow / Creeps in this petty pace from day to day” and what does it reflect?

Macbeth, Act 5, Scene 5. Despair after Lady Macbeth’s death

Who says “Life’s but a walking shadow, a poor player / That struts and frets his hour upon the stage” and what does it mean?

Macbeth, Act 5, Scene 5. Life is meaningless

Who says “I bear a charmed life, which must not yield / To one of woman born” and what is shown?

Macbeth, Act 5, Scene 8. Overconfidence

Who says “Hail, king! for so thou art. Behold, where stands / The usurper’s cursed head” and what happens?

Macduff, Act 5, Scene 8. Malcolm becomes king