Othello Quotes

“Good name in man and woman, dear my lord, Is the immediate jewel of their souls: Who steals my purse steals trash; ’tis something, nothing; ’twas mine, ’tis his, and has been slave to thousands; But he that filches from me my good name Robs me of that which not enriches him, And makes me poor indeed.”

“Excellent wretch! Perdition catch my soul But I do love thee! and when I love thee not, Chaos is come again.”

“Though I do hate him as I do hell pains, Yet, for necessity of present life, I must show out a flag and sign of love— Which is indeed but sign.”

“My noble father, I do perceive here a divided duty. To you I am bound for life and education. My life and education both do learn me How to respect you. You are the lord of duty. I am hitherto your daughter. But here’s my husband, And so much duty as my mother showed To you, preferring you before her father, So much I challenge that I may profess Due to the Moor my lord.”

“Let heaven and men and devils, let them all, All, all, cry shame against me, yet I’ll speak.”

“I kissed thee ere I killed thee: no way but this, Killing myself, to die upon a kiss.”

“Then must you speak Of one that loved not wisely but too well.”

“I am glad I have found this napkin. This was her first remembrance from the Moor. My wayward husband hath a hundred times Wooed me to steal it. But she so loves the token (For he conjured her she should ever keep it) That she reserves it evermore about her To kiss and talk to. I’ll have the work ta’en out And give ‘t Iago. What he will do with it Heaven knows, not I. I nothing but to please his fantasy.”

“Ay, let her rot, and perish and be damned tonight, for she shall not live. No, my heart is turned to stone. I strike it, and it hurts my hand. O, the world hath not a sweeter creature! She might lie by an emperor’s side and command him tasks.”

“All my fond love thus do I blow to heaven. ‘Tis gone. Arise, black vengeance, from the hollow hell!”

“She, in spite of nature, Of years, of country, credit, every thing, To fall in love with what she feared to look on! It is a judgment maimed and most imperfect That will confess perfection so could err Against all rules of nature.”

“O curse of marriage, That we can call these delicate creatures ours And not their appetites! I had rather be a toad And live upon the vapor of a dungeon Than keep a corner in the thing I love For others’ uses. Yet ‘tis the plague of great ones; Prerogatived are they less than the base. ‘Tis destiny unshunnable, like death. Even then this forked plague is fated to us When we do quicken.”

“Reputation, reputation, reputation! O, I have lost my reputation! I have lost the immortal part of myself, and what remains is bestial.”

“She loved me for the dangers I had passed, And I loved her that she did pity them.”

“Demand me nothing. What you know, you know. From this time forth I never will speak word.”

“But I will wear my heart upon my sleeve For daws to peck at: I am not what I am.”

“Our bodies are our gardens, to the which our wills are gardeners.”

“O, beware, my lord, of jealousy: It is the green-eyed monster which doth mock The meat it feeds on.”

“Let him do his spite. My services which I have done the signiory Shall out-tongue his complaints. ‘Tis yet to know (Which, when I know that boasting is an honor, I shall promulgate) I fetch my life and being From men of royal siege, and my demerits May speak unbonneted to as proud a fortune As this that I have reached.”

“Look to her, Moor, if thou hast eyes to see. She has deceived her father, and may thee.”