Macbeth Quote Exploration

Fair is foul and foul is fair, Hover through the fog and filthy air.
Act 1, Scene 1

Witches to themselves
What seems good is actually bad, and what seems bad is actually good. Move through the mist and dirty atmosphere.

The Prince of Cumberland! that is a step On which I must fall down, or else o'erleap, For in my way it lies. Stars, hide your fires; Let not light see my black and deep desires: The eye wink at the hand

Act 1, Scene 4

Macbeth to himself
The Prince of Cumberland! That is a position I either have to give up or overcome, because it stands in my way. Stars, hide your light; don't let anyone see my dark and intense desires. Let my eyes ignore what my hands might do.

Come, you spirits That tend on mortal thoughts, unsex me here, And fill me from the crown to the toe top-full Of direst cruelty! make thick my blood; Stop up the access and passage to remorse

Act 1, Scene 5

Lady Macbeth to spirits
Come, you spirits that influence human thoughts, take away my femininity here, and fill me completely, from head to toe, with the worst cruelty! Thicken my blood; block any feelings of remorse or guilt.

Your face, my thane, is as a book where men May read strange matters. To beguile the time, Look like the time; bear welcome in your eye, Your hand, your tongue: look like the innocent flower, But be the serpent under't.

Act 1, Scene 5

Lady Macbeth to Macbeth
Your face, my lord, is like a book where people can read unusual things. To pass the time, you should appear friendly and welcoming in your eyes, your hands, and your speech. Look like the innocent flower, but be the serpent hidden underneath.

So I lose none In seekingto augment it, but still keep My bosom franchised and allegiance clear, I shall be counsell'd.

Act 2, Scene 1

Macbeth, to himself
I don't lose anything by trying to increase my power, as long as I maintain my honesty and loyalty. I will seek advice.

Is this a dagger which I see before me, The handle toward my hand? Come, let me clutch thee. I have thee not, and yet I see thee still. Art thou not, fatal vision, sensible To feeling as to sight? or art thou but A dagger of the mind, a false creation, Proceeding from the heat-oppressed brain?

Act 2, Scene 1

Macbeth, to himself
Is this a dagger I see in front of me, with the handle pointing toward my hand? Come, let me grab you. I don't have you, yet I still see you. Are you not, fatal vision, real to touch as you are to see? Or are you just a dagger of the mind, a false creation coming from my troubled brain?

To know my deed, 'twere best not know myself. Wake Duncan with thy knocking! I would thou couldst!

Act 2, Scene 2

Macbeth, to himself
To understand what I've done, it would be better if I didn't know myself. Wake Duncan with your knocking! I wish you could!

Thou hast it now: king, Cawdor, Glamis, all, As the weird women promised, and, I fear, Thou play dst most foully for't

Act 3, Scene 1

Banquo to Macbeth
You have it now: king, Cawdor, Glamis, everything, just as the weird sisters promised. But I fear you played very unfairly to get it.

Upon my head they placed a fruitless crown, And put a barren sceptre in my gripe, Thence to be wrench'd with an unlineal hand, No son of mine succeeding. If't be so, For Banquo's issue have I filed my mind; For them the gracious Duncan have I murder'd; Put rancours in the vessel of my peace Only for them; and mine eternal jewel Given to the common enemy of man, To make them kings, the seed of Banquo kings!

Act 3, Scene 1

Macbeth to himself
Upon my head, they placed a crown that brings no fruit, and gave me a scepter that is meaningless in my grip, to be taken away by someone who is not my heir. If that's the case, I have corrupted my mind for the sake of Banquo's descendants; for them, I murdered the gracious Duncan. I’ve filled my heart with bitterness only for them, and sacrificed my soul to the common enemy of humanity, to make them kings—the descendants of Banquo kings!

Nought's had, all's spent, Where our desire is got without content: 'Tis safer to be that which we destroy Than by destruction dwell in doubtfuljoy.

Act 3, Scene 2

Lady Macbeth to Macbeth
Nothing has been gained, and everything has been wasted, where our desires are achieved without satisfaction. It is safer to be the thing we destroy than to live in uncertain joy brought about by destruction.

But cruel are the times, when we are traitors And do not know ourselves, when we hold rumour From what we fear, yet know not what we fear, But float upon a wild and violent sea Each way and move.

Act 4, Scene 2

Malcolm, to Macduff
But these are cruel times, when we are traitors and don't even recognize ourselves, when we take gossip from what we fear, yet don't understand what we fear. We just drift on a wild and violent sea, moving in every direction.

That which you are my thoughts cannot transpose: Angels are bright still, though the brightest fell; Though all things foul would wear the brows of grace, Yet grace must still look so.

Act 4, Scene 3

Malcolm, to Macduff
I cannot change what you are in my thoughts: Angels are still bright, even though the brightest fell; although everything wicked may wear the appearance of goodness, true goodness must still look like itself.

Alas, poor country! Almost afraid to know itself. If cannot Be call'd our mother, but our grave; where nothing, But who knows nothing, is once seen to smile; Where sighs and groans and shrieks that rend the air Are made, not mark'd; where violent sorrow seems A modern ecstasy;

Act 4, Scene 3

Macduff, to Malcolm
Alas, poor country! It is almost afraid to know itself. It cannot be called our mother, but our grave; where nothing, but those who know nothing, are ever seen to smile; where sighs, groans, and shrieks that tear the air go unnoticed; where violent sorrow feels like a new kind of joy.

Out, damned spot! out, I say!--One: two: why, then, 'tis time to do't.--Hell is murky!--Fie, my lord, fie! a soldier, and afeard? What need we fear who knows it, when none can call our power to account?--Yet who would have thought the old man to have had so much blood in him.

Act 5, Scene 1

Lady Macbeth, to herself
Get out, damned spot! Out, I say! One: two: well, then it's time to do it. Hell is dark! Fie, my lord, fie! A soldier, and afraid? What do we need to fear if no one can hold us accountable for our power? Yet who would have thought the old man had so much blood in him?

I have lived long enough: my way of life Is fall'n into the sear, the yellow leaf; And that which should accompany old age, As honour, love, obedience, troops of friends, I must not look to have: but, in their stead, Curses

Act 5, Scene 3

Lady Macbeth, to herself
I have lived long enough; my way of life has withered like a dying leaf. And what should come with old age—honor, love, obedience, and a host of friends—I must not expect to have. Instead, I have curses.

To-morrow, and to-morrow, and to-morrow, Creeps in this petty pace from day to day To the last syllable of recorded time, And all our yesterdays have lighted fools The way to dusty death. Out, out, brief candle! Life's but a walking shadow, a poor player That struts and frets his hour upon the stage And then is heard no more: it is a tale Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, Signifying nothing.

Act V, Scene v

Macbeth, to Seyton
Tomorrow, and tomorrow, and tomorrow, crawls at a slow pace from day to day until the last moment of time. All our yesterdays have illuminated fools on their way to a dusty death. Out, out, brief candle! Life is just a fleeting shadow, a poor actor who struts and worries for an hour on stage and then is heard no more. It is a story told by an idiot, full of noise and anger, meaning nothing.