Famous Quotations from Romeo and Juliet
Familiarize yourself with the speaker, the circumstances under which each quote is said, and the meaning of the quote. You will be tested on all of these.
I’ll look to like, looking liking move. Act I, Scene iii
True, I talk of dreams,
Which are the children of an idle brain
Begot of nothing but vain fantasy. Act I, Scene iv
Oh, she doth teach the torches to burn bright?
It seems she hangs upon the cheek of night
Like a rich jewel in an Ethiop’s ear—
Beauty too rich for use, for earth too dear! Act I, Scene v
My only love sprung from my only hate!
Too early seen unknown, and known too late! Act I, Scene v
He jests at scars that never felt a wound. Act II, Scene ii
But soft! What light through yonder window breaks?
It is the east, and Juliet is the sun!
Arise, fair sun, and kill the envious moon,
Who is already sick and pale with grief
That though her maid art far more fair than she. Act II, Scene ii
O Romeo, Romeo, wherefore art thou Romeo?
Deny thy father and refuse thy name,
Or, if thou wilt not, be but sworn my love
And I’ll no longer be a Capulet. Act II, Scene ii
What’s in a name? That which we call a rose
By any other name would smell as sweet. Act II, Scene ii
Thou know’st the mask of night is on my face
Else would a maiden blush bepaint my cheek
For that which thou hast heard me speak tonight. Act II, Scene ii
Oh, blessed, blesed night! I am afeard,
Being in night, all this is but a dream,
Too flattering—sweet to be substantial. Act II, Scene ii
Good night, good night! Parting is such sweet sorrow
That I shall say good night till it be morrow. Act II, Scene ii
Sleep dwell upon thine eyes, peace in thy breast!
Would I were to sleep and peace, so sweet to rest! Act II, Scene ii
So soon forsaken? Young men’s love then lies
Not truly in their hearts, but in their eyes. Act II, Scene iii
No, ‘tis not so deep as a well nor so wide as a church door, but tis enough ‘twill serve. Ask for me tomorrow and you shall find me a grave man.
Act III, Scene I
A plague o’ both your houses!
They have made worms’ meat of me. Act III, Scene I
Oh, I am fortune’s fool. Act III, Scene I
Come gentle night, come, loving, black-browed night,
Give me my Romeo; and when he shall die,
Take him and cut him out in little stars,
And he will make the face of heaven so fine
That all the world will be in love with night. Act III, Scene iii
Death lies on her like an untimely frost
Upon the sweetest flower of all the field. Act IV, Scene I
There is thy gold, worse poison to men’s souls,
Doing more murder in this loathsome world
Than these poor compounds that thou mayst not sell
I sell thee poison, thou hast sold me none. Act V, Scene i
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