Romeo and Juliet - key quotations

A pair of star-cross'd lovers

Description of Romeo and Juliet from the prologue

Peace! I hate the word.

Tybalt's first appearance links him with hatred and violence

Will they not hear? What, ho! you men, you beasts!

The prince is unable to stop the fight, reflecting his lack of control over the irrational minds of the families.

Black and portentous must this humour prove

Montague's attitude to Romeo

Here's much to do with hate, but more with love.

Romeo understands the dangers of love - it can lead to violence and death.

Love is a smoke made of the fume of sighs.

Romeo sees love as at once insubstantial and suffocating, intoxicating and dangerous.

My child is yet a stranger in the world.

Capulet believes Juliet is too young to be married

My will to her consent is but a part.

Capulet claims that Juliet's consent to be married is more important than his wishes.

The all-seeing sun ne'er saw her match since first the world begun.

Romeo hyperbolically claims that Rosaline is the most beautiful woman in history.

Madam, I am here. What is your will?

Juliet's first words to her mother emphasise her obedience to her parents.

It is an honour that I dream not of.

Juliet's attitude to marriage.

No more deep will I endart my eye than your consent gives strength to make it fly.

Juliet claims that she cannot fall in love without her mother's approval.

Seek happy nights to happy days.

The nurse's attitude to marriage - physical enjoyment!

Being but heavy, I will bear the light.

Although Romeo claims to be depressed, he keeps making puns in this scene!"

Is love a tender thing? It is too rough, too rude, too boisterous, and it pricks like thorn.

Another negative view of love from Romeo.

My mind misgives some consequence yet hanging in the stars...

Romeo has a premonition that the party will lead to a fatal consequence.

But he that hath the steerage of my course direct my sail.

Romeo refuses to take responsibility for his own actions - he is going to let fate lead him wherever it wants.

O, she doth teach the torches to burn bright!

Romeo's first sight of Juliet.

I ne'er saw true beauty tilll this night.

Romeo renounces all his previous words about Rosaline.

I will withdraw, but this intrusion shall now seeing sweet convert to bitterest gall.

Tybalt is forced by Capulet to be patient and not kill Romeo straight away - but he will have his vengeance!

Then move not, while my prayer's effect I take.

Romeo is both humble and assertive in his first meeting with Juliet.

My life is my foe's debt.

After meeting Juliet, Romeo now owes his life to the Capulets.

If he be married, my grave is like to be my wedding bed.

Juliet's line foreshadows the end of the play.

My only love sprung from my only hate!

Juliet states the paradox of her relationship with Romeo.

Passion lends them power

This phrase from the chorus reflects the idea that the strength of their love gives Romeo and Juliet power to overcome the obstacles of their situation.

Tis but thy name that is my enemy.

Juliet idealistically believes Romeo can give up being a Montague.

It is the east, and Juliet is the sun.

Typical hyperbole from Romeo - Juliet is the centre of his universe.

With love's light wings did I o'erperch these walls.

For Romeo, love can achieve anything - even climb walls!

If they do see thee, they will murder thee.

Juliet is far more realistic and anxious than Romeo here - she seems to understand the real danger they are facing in this violent and brutal city.

Fain would I dwell on form, fain, fain deny what I have spoke.

Juliet wishes Romeo had not heard her confess her love - she wishes she could have kept her distance for the sake of 'form'.

I have no joy of this contract tonight: it is too rash, too unadvis'd, too sudden; too like the lightning...

Juliet is anxious that the promises they make tonight will be meaningless and short lived.

I am afeard, being in night, all ths is but a dream, too flattering-sweet to be substantial.

Romeo is anxious that his meeting with Juliet may not be real.

Two such opposed kings encamp them still in man as well as herbs, grace and rude will.

Friar Lawrence believes that all men have two opposing forces within them - their base desires and god-given goodness.

Young men's love then lies not truly in their hearts, but in their eyes.

Friar Lawrence doubts whether Romeo's love for Juliet is genuine.

This alliance may so happy prove to turn your households' rancour to pure love.

Friar Lawrence pragmatically agrees to marry R + J, believing that their relationship may bring peace to Verona.

O let us hence; I stand on sudden haste.

Romeo is in a desperate hurry to marry Juliet.

Wisely and slow; they stumble that run fast.

Friar Lawrence urges caution.

Had she affections and warm youthful blood, she would be as swift in motion as a ball

Juliet impatiently waits for the Nurse to bring news.

But old folks, many feign as they were dead; unwieldy, slow, heavy and pale as lead.

Juliet believes that adults are incapable of feeling love - and so are effectively dead!

These violent delights have violent ends.

What begins quickly, says Friar Lawrence, will end quickly.

Like fire and powder, which as they kiss consume.

Friar Lawrence sees love as potentially explosive and destructive.

Too swift arrives as tardy as too slow.

For Friar Lawrence, moderation is the key to happiness.

"For now, these hot days, is the mad blood stirring.

Benvolio begins Act 3 with this observation about the dangerous, irrational, violent world of Verona.

Men's eyes were made to look, and let them gaze; I will not budge for no man's pleasure, I.

Mercutio shows his arrogance and pride here.

I love thee better than thou canst devise.

Romeo appeals to Tybalt - and angers him - by claiming to love him.

O calm, dishonourable, vile submission!

Mercutio's view of Romeo's refusal to fight Tybalt.

I thought all for the best.

By trying to stop the fight, Romeo causes Mercutio's death - just as he ultimately causes the death of Juliet and himself.

O sweet Juliet, thy beauty hath made me effeminate, and in my temper softened valour's steel.

Romeo blames Juliet for weakening his masculinity and so causing Tybalt's death.

This day's black fate on moe days doth depend.

Romeo recognises the long lasting significance of the death of Mercutio.

Either thou, or I, or both, must go with him.

Here Romeo seems to completely devalue his own life, reflecting his irrational passion.

O, I am fortune's fool!

Romeo believes that he is a plaything of Fate.

Come, Night, come, Romeo, come thou day in night.

Juliet shows her desperation to be with Romeo - she wishes that the night could change to day.

Can heaven be so envious?

Juliet misunderstands the nurse and believes that Romeo is dead - because he is more beautiful than God!

Vile earth, to earth resign, end motion here!

When she believes Romeo is dead, Juliet sees herself as worthless.

O God, did Romeo's hand shed Tybalt's blood?

Juliet realises what Romeo has done.

O serpent heart, hid with a flow'ring face!

Juliet sees Romeo as being outwardly beautiful but inwardly wicked.

O what a beast was I to chide at him!

Juliet cannot bring herself to admit that Romeo has done anything wrong.

That 'banished', that one word 'banished' had slain ten thousand Tybalts.

Juliet sees Romeo's banishment as being far worse than the death of Tybalt.

Be patient, for the world is broad and wide.

Friar Lawrence attempts to comfort Romeo with his philosophical outlook.

Heaven is here, where Juliet lives.

Romeo sees his banishment as being cut off from heaven.

O then I see that mad men have no ears.

Friar Lawrence sees Romeo as irrational and unable to listen to reason.

Art thou a man? Thy form cries out thou art; thy tears are womanish, thy wild acts denote the unreasonable fury of a beast.

Although Romeo looks like a man, he is not acting in a manly way - he's behaving like an emotional woman and a wild animal.

A pack of blessings light upon thy back.

Friar Lawrence argues that Romeo is lucky to have been banished.

I will make a desperate tender of my child's love: I think she will be ruled in all respects by me.

Capulet believes that Juliet will obey him in marrying Paris.

I must be gone and live, or stay and die.

Romeo states the awful paradox of his situation at the end of Act 3 - either death or banishment must separate the lovers.

More light and light, more dark and dark our woes!

Another paradox from Romeo - the lighter the sky gets, the darker the situation becomes."

Methinks I see thee now, thou art so low, as one dead in the bottom of a tomb.

Juliet seems to have a premonition of Romeo's death. The next time she sees him (in Act 5) he will indeed be dead.

He shall not make me there a joyful bride.

Juliet flatly rejects the idea of marrying Paris.

Have you delivered to her our decree?

Capulet sees himself as an absolute ruler over his family.

Out, you green-sickness carrion! Out, you baggage!

Capulet insults Juliet in nasty and misogynistic terms.

My fingers itch.

Capulet threatens his daughter with physical violence.

And you be mine, I'll give you to my friend.

Capulet sees Juliet as his property, to be given away to Paris.

Make the bridal bed in the dim monument where Tybalt lies.

In asking her mother to delay the wedding, Juliet's words foreshadow the end of the play.

Do as thou wilt, for I have done with thee.

Lady Capulet's last words to Juliet reflect her cruelty and lack of love for her daughter.

I think it best you married with the County.

Nurse advises Juliet to forget Romeo.

Thou and my bosom henceforth shall be twain.

Juliet breaks off her relationship with Nurse.

Or bid me go into a new-made grave.

Juliet's words to the Friar show her desperation and courage - they also ironically foreshadow the end of the play.

I have learnt me to repent the sin of disobedient opposition

Juliet pretends that she is going to be an obedient daughter to Capulet.

My dismal scene I needs must act alone.

Juliet prepares to take the potion.

Death lies on her like an untimely frost upon the sweetest flower of the field.

Capulet seems genuinely devastated by the 'death' of Juliet.

Death is my son-in-law, Death is my heir.

Capulet's words suggest that by dying, Juliet has married Death.

All things that we ordained festival, turn from their office to black funeral.

The planned Capulet wedding must now be a Capulet funeral.

My dreams presage some joyful news at hand.

A very ironic line - Romeo believes that he is about to receive good news!

Is it e'en so? then I defy you, stars!

Romeo vows to challenge fate and no longer accept it passively - contrasting with his words at the end of Act 1 sc 4.

By heaven, I will tear thee joint by joint and strew this hungry churchyard with thy limbs.

Romeo threatens Balthasar, showing how out of control he is.

Thou detestable maw, thou womb of death.

Romeo addresses Juliet's tomb.

By heaven, I love thee better than myself.

Romeo's words to Paris echo his words to Tybalt in Act 3 sc 1

Thou art not conquered, beauty's ensign yet is crimson in thy lips and in thy cheeks.

Although she is dead, Juliet is still beautiful.

Here will I set up my everlasting rest, and shake the yoke of inauspicious stars from this world-wearied flesh

By killing himself, Romeo is finally going to break free of the burden of fate.

Thou desperate pilot, now at last run on the dashing rocks thy seasick weary bark!

Romeo sees himself as a boat (like he did at the end of Act 1 sc 4) and the poison as the pilot.

Yea, noise? Then I'll be brief. O happy dagger, this is thy sheath; there rust, and let me die.

Juliet's short and simple final speech contrasts to Romeo's.

All are punished.

The Prince's final verdict at the end of the play.