Hamlet Key Quotes

Question 1

“O, that this too, too solid flesh would melt, Thaw and resolve itself into a dew”

Answer 1

Hamlet, act 1 scene 2

Question 2

“Listen to many, speak to a few”

Answer 2

Polonius: act 1, scene 3

Question 3

“Neither a borrower nor a lender be, for loan oft loses both itself and friend and borrowing dulls the edge of husbandry”

Answer 3

Polonius: act 1, scene 3

Question 4

“This above all: to thine own self be true, And it must follow as the night of day, thou canst not be false to any man”

Answer 4

Polonius: act 1, scene 3

Question 5

“Though I am naive here And to the manner born, it is a custom More honoured in the breach than observance”

Answer 5

Hamlet: act 1, Scene 4

Question 6

“Something is rotten in he state of Denmark”

Answer 6

Marcellus: act 1, scene 2

Question 7

“That one may smile and smile and be a villain”

Answer 7

Hamlet: act 1, scene 5

Question 8

“There are more things in heaven than earth Horatio, Than are dreamt in our philosophy”

Answer 8

Hamlet: act 1, scene 5

Question 9

“Brevity is the soul of wit”

Answer 9

Polonius: act 2, scene 2

Question 10

“Though this be madness, yet there is method in’t”

Answer 10

Polonius: act 2, scene 2

Question 11

“There is nothing either good or bad but thinking makes it so”

Answer 11

Hamlet: act 2, scene 2

Question 12

“Doubt thou the stars are fire; Doubt that the sun doth move; Doubt truth to be a liar; But never doubt I love”

Answer 12

Polonius: act 2, scene 2

Question 13

“What a piece of work is a man! How noble in reason, how infinite in faculty! In form and moving how express and admirable! In action how like an angel! In apprehension how like a god! The beauty of the world! The paragon of animals! And yet to me, what is this quintessence of dust? Man delights not me; no, nor Woman neither; through by your smiling you seem to say so…”

Answer 13

Hamlet: act 2, scene 2

Question 14

“To be or not to be, that is the question”

Answer 14

Hamlet: act 3, scene 1

Question 15

“God hath given you one face, and you make yourself another”

Answer 15

Hamlet: act 3, scene 1

Question 16

“To die, to sleep- To sleep, perchance to dream- any, there’s the rub, For in this sleep of death what dreams may come”

Answer 16

Hamlet: act 3, scene 1

Question 17

“The lady doth protest too much methinks”

Answer 17

Gertrude: act 3, scene 2

Question 18

“My words fly up, my thoughts remain below: words without thoughts never to heaven go”

Answer 18

Claudius: act 3, scene 3

Question 19

“I must be cruel only to be kind; thus bad begins, and worse remains behind”

Answer 19

Hamlet: act 3, scene 4

Question 20

“How all occasions do inform against me, and spur my dull revenge”

Answer 20

Hamlet: act 2, scene 4

Question 21

“Alas poor Yorick! I knew him, Horatio: a fellow of infinite jest”

Answer 21

Hamlet: act 5, scene 1

Question 22

“If it be now, it’s not to come: if it be not to come, it will be now: if it be not now, yet will come: the readiness is all”

Answer 22

Hamlet: act 5, scene 2

Question 23

“The rest is silence”

Answer 23

Hamlet: act 5, scene 2

Question 24

“Now cracks a noble heart. Goodnight, sweet prince, and flights of angels sing thee to thy rest”

Answer 24

Horatio: act 5, scene 2

Question 25

“Oh my offence is rank, it smells to heaven”

Answer 25

Claudius: act 3, scene 3

Question 26

“now might I do it pat”

Answer 26

Hamlet: act 3, scene 3

Question 27

“Get thee to a nunnery! Why wouldst thou be a breeder of sinners?”

Answer 27

Hamlet: act 3, scene 1

Question 28

“There’s rosemary, that’s for remembrance. Pray you, love, remember. And there is pansies,
that’s for thoughts. . . .
There’s fennel for you, and columbines. There’s rue for you, and here’s some for me; we
may call it herb of grace o’Sundays. You must wear your rue with a difference. There’s a daisy. I would
give you some violets, but they withered all when my father died. They say he made a good end”

Answer 28

Ophelia: act 4, scene 5