The Merchant of Venice

The Merchant of Venice (written about 1596 )

by William Shakespeare

• In sooth, I know not why I am so sad. (Antonio, I.i)

• I hold the world but as the world Gratiano, A stage where every man must play his part, And mine a sad one (Antonio, I.i)

• The devil can cite Scripture for his purpose. (Antonio, I.iii)

• I like not fair terms and a villain's mind. (Bassanio, I.iii)

• All that glisters is not gold. (Morocco, reading scroll, II.vii)

• I am a Jew. Hath not a Jew eyes? hath not a Jew hands, organs, dimensions, senses, affections, passions? fed with the same food, hurt with the same weapons, subject to the same diseases, healed by the same means, warmed and cooled by the same winter and summer, as a Christian is? If you prick us, do we not bleed? if you tickle us, do we not laugh? if you poison us, do we not die? and if you wrong us, shall we not revenge? (Shylock, III.i)

• The weakest kind of fruit drops earliest to the ground. (Antonio, IV.i)

• The quality of mercy is not strain'd, it droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven upon the place beneath: it is twice bless’d; It blesseth him that gives and him that takes (Portia, IV.i)

• How far that little candle throws its beams; So shines a good deed in a naughty world. (Portia at V, i)