Much Ado About Nothing quotes

But few of any sort, and none of name.

A victory is twice itself when the achiever brings home full numbers.

I find here that Don Pedro hath bestowed much honour on a young Florentine called Claudio.

If Signior Leonato be her father, she would not have his head on her shoulders for all Messina, as like him as she is.

I wonder that you will still be talking, Signior Benedick: nobody marks you.

What, my dear Lady Disdain! are you yet living?

What, my dear Lady Disdain! are you yet living?

Is it possible disdain should die while she hath such meet food to feed it as Signior Benedick?

Courtesy itself must convert to disdain, if you come in her presence.

A dear happiness to women: they would else have been troubled with a pernicious suitor. I thank God and my cold blood, I am of your humour for that:

I had rather hear my dog bark at a crow than a man swear he loves me.

God keep your ladyship still in that mind! so some gentleman or other shall ’scape a predestinate scratched face.

God keep your ladyship still in that mind! so some gentleman or other shall ’scape a predestinate scratched face.

Scratching could not make it worse, an ’twere such a face as yours were.

Well, you are a rare parrot-teacher.

Well, you are a rare parrot-teacher.

A bird of my tongue is better than a beast of yours.

I would my horse had the speed of your tongue, and so good a continuer. But keep your way, i’ God’s name; I have done.

I thank you:

I am not of many words, but I thank you.

Please it your grace lead on?

where it is impossible you should take true root but by the fair weather that you make yourself: it is needful that you frame the season for your own harvest.

I had rather be a canker in a hedge than a rose in his grace

, and it better fits my blood to be disdained of all than to fashion a carriage to rob love from any:

I have a good eye, uncle;

I can see a church by daylight.

The revellers are entering, brother: make good room. All put on their masks.

Do, do: he’ll but break a comparison or two on me; which, peradventure not marked or not laughed at, strikes him into melancholy; and then there’s a partridge wing saved, for the fool will eat no supper that night. Music. We must follow the leaders.

Nay, if they lead to any ill, I will leave them at the next turning.

Dance. Then exeunt all except Don John, Borachio, and Claudio.

Speak, count, ’tis your cue.

Silence is the perfectest herald of joy: I were but little happy, if I could say how much.

Lady, as you are mine, I am yours: I give away myself for you and dote upon the exchange.

In faith, lady, you have a merry heart.

Yea, my lord; I thank it, poor fool, it keeps on the windy side of care.

My cousin tells him in his ear that he is in her heart.

Will you have me, lady?

No, my lord, unless I might have another for working-days: your grace is too costly to wear every day.

But, I beseech your grace, pardon me: I was born to speak all mirth and no matter.

Your silence most offends me, and to be merry best becomes you; for, out of question, you were born in a merry hour.

No, sure, my lord, my mother cried; but then there was a star danced, and under that was I born.

Cousins, God give you joy!

Now, divine air! now is his soul ravished! Is it not strange that sheeps’ guts should hale souls out of men’s bodies? Well, a horn for my money, when all’s done.

Sigh no more, ladies, sigh no more, Men were deceivers ever, One foot in sea and one on shore, To one thing constant never:

Then sigh not so, but let them go, And be you blithe and bonny, Converting all your sounds of woe Into Hey nonny, nonny. Sing no more ditties, sing no moe, Of dumps so dull and heavy;

but doth not the appetite alter? a man loves the meat in his youth that he cannot endure in his age. Shall quips and sentences and these paper bullets of the brain awe a man from the career of his humour?

No, the world must be peopled.

When I said I would die a bachelor, I did not think I should live till I were married. Here comes Beatrice. By this day! she’s a fair lady: I do spy some marks of love in her.

a man loves the meat in his youth that he cannot endure in his age. Shall quips and sentences and these paper bullets of the brain awe a man from the career of his humour? No, the world must be peopled.

When I said I would die a bachelor, I did not think I should live till I were married.

Here comes Beatrice. By this day! she’s a fair lady: I do spy some marks of love in her.

I may chance have some odd quirks and remnants of wit broken on me, because I have railed so long against marriage: but doth not the appetite alter? a man loves the meat in his youth that he cannot endure in his age.

Shall quips and sentences and these paper bullets of the brain awe a man from the career of his humour?

No, the world must be peopled. When I said I would die a bachelor, I did not think I should live till I were married. Here comes Beatrice. By this day! she’s a fair lady: I do spy some marks of love in her.

Fair Beatrice, I thank you for your pains.

I took no more pains for those thanks than you take pains to thank me: if it had been painful, I would not have come.

You take pleasure then in the message?

Where is but a humour or a worm.

Well, everyone can master a grief but he that has it.

Yet say I, he is in love.

Is it possible that any villainy should be so dear?

Thou shouldst rather ask if it were possible any villainy should be so rich; for when rich villains have need of poor ones, poor ones may make what price they will.

That shows thou art unconfirmed. Thou knowest that the fashion of a doublet, or a hat, or a cloak, is nothing to a man.

All this I see; and

I see that the fashion wears out more apparel than the man.

But art not thou thyself giddy with the fashion too, that thou hast shifted out of thy tale into telling me of the fashion?

Yes, I thank God I am as honest as any man living that is an old man and no honester than I.

Comparisons are odorous: palabras, neighbour Verges.

It pleases your worship to say so, but we are the poor duke’s officers; but truly, for mine own part, if I were as tedious as a king, I could find in my heart to bestow it all of your worship.

I dare make his answer, none.

O, what men dare do! what men may do! what men daily do, not knowing what they do!

How now! interjections? Why, then, some be of laughing, as, ah, ha, he!

It is a man’s office, but not yours.

I do love nothing in the world so well as you: is not that strange?

As strange as the thing I know not. It were as possible for me to say I loved nothing so well as you: but believe me not; and yet I lie not; I confess nothing, nor I deny nothing. I am sorry for my cousin.

By my sword, Beatrice, thou lovest me.

Do not swear, and eat it.

I will swear by it that you love me; and I will make him eat it that says I love not you.

And do it with all thy heart.

I love you with so much of my heart that none is left to protest.

Come, bid me do anything for thee.

Is he not approved in the height a villain, that hath slandered, scorned, dishonoured my kinswoman?

O that I were a man! What, bear her in hand until they come to take hands; and then, with public accusation, uncovered slander, unmitigated rancour⁠—O God, that I were a man! I would eat his heart in the marketplace.

Talk with a man out at a window! A proper saying!

But manhood is melted into curtesies, valour into compliment, and men are only turned into tongue, and trim ones too: he is now as valiant as Hercules that only tells a lie and swears it.

I cannot be a man with wishing, therefore I will die a woman with grieving.

Tarry, good Beatrice. By this hand, I love thee.

and a rich fellow enough, go to; and a fellow that hath had losses, and one that hath two gowns and everything handsome about him. Bring him away.

O that I had been writ down an ass!

Exeunt.

Leonato and his brother. What thinkest thou? Had we fought, I doubt we should have been too young for them.

In a false quarrel there is no true valour.

I came to seek you both.

And hath challenged thee.

What a pretty thing man is when he goes in his doublet and hose and leaves off his wit!

He is then a giant to an ape; but then is an ape a doctor to such a man.

Only foul words; and thereupon I will kiss thee.

Foul words is but foul wind, and foul wind is but foul breath, and foul breath is noisome; therefore I will depart unkissed.

Thou hast frighted the word out of his right sense, so forcible is thy wit. But I must tell thee plainly, Claudio undergoes my challenge; and either I must shortly hear from him, or I will subscribe him a coward.

In spite of your heart, I think; alas, poor heart! If you spite it for my sake, I will spite it for yours; for I will never love that which my friend hates.

Thou and I are too wise to woo peaceably.

It appears not in this confession: there’s not one wise man among twenty that will praise himself.

And how do you?

Serve God, love me and mend.

There will I leave you too, for here comes one in haste.

Reading out of a scroll.

Done to death by slanderous tongues Was the Hero that here lies:

Death, in guerdon of her wrongs, Gives her fame which never dies. So the life that died with shame Lives in death with glorious fame.