Shakespeare Quotes Used in Modern Movies, Songs, and Books
10 Things I Hate About You
“Sweet love, renew thy force.”
Sonnet LVI
Translation: Sweet love, regain the strength you once had.
She’s the Man
“Be not afraid of greatness. Some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon them.”
Twelfth Night, Act II Scene V
Translation: Do not fear greatness (success). Some are born great (power through family succession), some achieve greatness (through hard work), and some have greatness thrust upon them (and outside for aided in granting the success, whether or not the now “great” being wished for it or not).
Billy Madison
“To be or not to be, that is the question.”
Hamlet, Act III Scene I
Translation: Is it better to live or die?
Letters to Juliet
“Doubt thou the stars are fire;
Doubt that the sun doth move;
Doubt truth to be a liar;
But never doubt I love.”
Hamlet, Act II Scene II
Translation: You may not believe that the stars shine or that the sun comes up in the morning, but you must believe that I love. The fact that I love is more certain than the most certain things in the universe.
The Holiday
“Love is blind.”
Henry V, Act V Scene II
Translation: Love does not see with the eyes, but with the heart. Love does not develop from appearance, but from personality.
Lincoln
“We have heard the chimes at midnight, Master Shallow.”
King Henry IV
Translation: It is now midnight.
Renaissance Man
“To thine, own self be true.”
Hamlet
Translation: Stay true to who you really are and to others.
The Prince and Me
“The sun itself sees not until heaven clears.”
Sonnet 148
Translation: 1) The sun cannot see the Earth until the clouds clear (personification). 2) Shakespeare cannot properly imagine his lover.
Fire – Bruce Springsteen
“Garden of a thousand sighs.”
Twelfth Night
Translation: There are many worn people in the world.
Get Over It – The Eagles
“Old Billy was right, let’s kill all the lawyers, kill ‘em tonight.”
Henry
“Sweet love, renew thy force.”
Sonnet LVI
Translation: Sweet love, regain the strength you once had.
She’s the Man
“Be not afraid of greatness. Some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon them.”
Twelfth Night, Act II Scene V
Translation: Do not fear greatness (success). Some are born great (power through family succession), some achieve greatness (through hard work), and some have greatness thrust upon them (and outside for aided in granting the success, whether or not the now “great” being wished for it or not).
Billy Madison
“To be or not to be, that is the question.”
Hamlet, Act III Scene I
Translation: Is it better to live or die?
Letters to Juliet
“Doubt thou the stars are fire;
Doubt that the sun doth move;
Doubt truth to be a liar;
But never doubt I love.”
Hamlet, Act II Scene II
Translation: You may not believe that the stars shine or that the sun comes up in the morning, but you must believe that I love. The fact that I love is more certain than the most certain things in the universe.
The Holiday
“Love is blind.”
Henry V, Act V Scene II
Translation: Love does not see with the eyes, but with the heart. Love does not develop from appearance, but from personality.
Lincoln
“We have heard the chimes at midnight, Master Shallow.”
King Henry IV
Translation: It is now midnight.
Renaissance Man
“To thine, own self be true.”
Hamlet
Translation: Stay true to who you really are and to others.
The Prince and Me
“The sun itself sees not until heaven clears.”
Sonnet 148
Translation: 1) The sun cannot see the Earth until the clouds clear (personification). 2) Shakespeare cannot properly imagine his lover.
Fire – Bruce Springsteen
“Garden of a thousand sighs.”
Twelfth Night
Translation: There are many worn people in the world.
Get Over It – The Eagles
“Old Billy was right, let’s kill all the lawyers, kill ‘em tonight.”
Henry