We can perhaps say without contention that no individual has influenced the literature space as much as William Shakespeare. Born 26^th April 1564 in Stratford-Upon-Avon in Warwickshire, England, Shakespeare went on to become the most celebrated Poet, Playwright and Actor in History. Little wonder that his work has been translated into virtually all the major languages and he is still referred to as England’s National poet. His work which includes collaborations consist of 38 plays, 154 sonnets and 2 long narrative poems. In the league of great men and women with global accolade, he is one of the very few with a day set-aside to celebrate him globally. It is perhaps interesting to note that this year marks the 400^th anniversary of the playwright’s death.

To mark today 23^rd April, 2016 Shakespeare Day, we have short-listed 20 quotes from his work we find to be inspirational.

1. All the World’s a stage, and all the men and women merely player; they have their exits and their entrances; And one man in his time plays many part. ( Jaques in As you Like It)
2. Some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrusted upon them. (Twelfth Night)
3. Cowards die many times before their death; the valiant never taste of death but once. (Julius Caesar)
4. If ‘to do’, were as easy as ‘to know what were good to do’, chspels had been churches, and poor men’s cottage princes’ palace. (The Merchant of Venice0
5. Life’s but a walking shadow, a poor player that struts and frets his hour upon he stage, and then is heard no more; it is a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing. (Macbeth)
6. Love looks not with the eyes, but with the mind; and therefore is winged Cupid painted blind. (A Midsummer Night’s Dream)
7. This above all: to thine ownself be true. And it must follow, as the night the day, Thou canst not then be false to any man. Polonius in Hamlet.
8. Action is Eloquence. (Volumnia in Coriolanus)
9. Have more than thou showest, Speak less than thou knowest, Lend less than thou owest, Ride more than thou goest, Learn more than thou throwest’. (The Fool in King Lear)
10. Self-love, my liege, is not so vile a sin, as self-neglecting. (Dauphin in Henry V)
11. Our doubts are traitors, And make us lose the good we oft might win by fearing to attempt. (Lucio in Measure for Measure0
12. The robbed that smiles, steals something from the thief. (Duke of Venice in Othello)
13. Give every man thy ear, but few thy voice. (Polonius in Hamlet)
14. Brevity is the soul of Wit. (Hamlet)
15. When beggars die there are no comets seen; The heavens themselves blaze forth the death of princes’ (Julius Caesar)
16. It is not in the stars to hold our destiny but in ourselves. (Julius Ceasar)
17. We are such stuffs as dreams are made on, and our little life is rounded with a sleep. (The Tempest)
18. When fortune means to men most good, she looks upon them with a threatening eye. (Romeo and Juliet)
19. Love all, trust a few, Do wrong to none (All is well that ends well)
20. How bitter a thing it is to look into happiness through another man’s eye. (As you like it)

Did we miss out on some your favorite Shakespeare quotes? Please share them with us in the comment section.