William Shakespeare (1564 – 1616) is one of the most celebrated writers in the English language. He has written many plays, poems and sonnets that are still read today. His work is often lauded for its wit and humor, but it also deals with serious themes such as mortality, love and betrayal. Shakespeare also wrote many quotes on life after death. His thoughts on death are not only about loss but also about what it means to live with a constant awareness of our mortality.
Death is a subject that everyone fears. It’s the end of your life and all of those you’ve loved. How do you want to die?” may be one of the most important questions we ask ourselves.
Shakespeare quotes on death that might inspire you or help make it easier for you to deal with this inevitable event. His words can help us find peace and acceptance during difficult times and may provide comfort when someone has passed away.
Top 35 Shakespeare Quotes On Death:
01.
“On pain of death, no person be so bold.”
― William Shakespeare, King Richard II
02.
“O Death, made proud with pure and princely beauty!”
― William Shakespeare, King John
03.
“Cowards die many times before their deaths; the valiant never taste of death but once.“
― William Shakespeare, Julius Caesar
04.
“Done to death by slanderous tongues was the Hero that here lies.”
― William Shakespeare, Much Ado About Nothing
05.
“The valiant never taste of death but once.”
― William Shakespeare, Julius Caesar
06.
“Let me be boiled to death with melancholy.”
― William Shakespeare, JTwelfth Night
07.
“Death, that hath suck’d the honey of thy breath.”
― William Shakespeare, Romeo & Juliet
08.
“When beggars die, there are no comets seen; the heavens themselves blaze forth the death of princes.”
― William Shakespeare, Julius Caesar
09.
“He that dies pays all debts.”
― William Shakespeare, The Tempest
10.
“Vengeance is in my heart, death in my hand, blood and revenge are hammering in my head.“
— William Shakespeare, Titus Andronicus
11.
“Death is a fearful thing.“
— William Shakespeare, Measure for Measure
12.
“Death, that dark spirit, in’s nervy arm doth lie,
― William Shakespeare, Coriolanus
Which being advanc’d, declines, and then men die.”
13.
“Death-counterfeiting sleep.”
― William Shakespeare
14.
“Though Death be poor, it ends a mortal woe”
― William Shakespeare, King Richard II
15.
“Of all the wonders that I yet have heard, it seems to me most strange that men should fear; Seeing that death, a necessary end, will come when it will come.”
― William Shakespeare, Julius Caesar
16.
“Where hateful Death put on his ugliest mask.”
― William Shakespeare, King Henry IV, Part II
17.
“The worst is Death, and death will have his day.”
― William Shakespeare, King Richard II
18.
“He kills her in her own humor.”
― William Shakespeare
19.
“Nor shall Death brag thou wander’st in his shade,
― William Shakespeare, Shakespeare’s Sonnets
When in eternal lines to time thou growest:”
20.
“An Angelo for Claudio, death for death!”
― William Shakespeare
21.
“You don’t have to die in the next year if you die this year.”
― William Shakespeare
22.
“Downy sleep, death’s counterfeit.”
― William Shakespeare, Macbeth
23.
“What is thy sentence then but speechless death?”
― William Shakespeare, King Richard II
24.
“The heavens themselves blaze forth the death of princes.”
― William Shakespeare, Julius Caesar
25.
“We’ll bury him; and then, what’s brave, what’s noble, let’s do it after the high Roman fashion, and make death proud to take us.”
― William Shakespeare, Antony and Cleopatra
26.
“Some guard these traitors to the block of death, treason’s true bed and yielder up of breath.”
― William Shakespeare, Henry IV, Part 2
27.
“To die, to sleep. To sleep, perchance to dream—ay, there’s the rub, For in that sleep of death what dreams may come.”
― William Shakespeare, Hamlet
28.
“Seeing that death, a necessary end, Will come when it will come.”
― William Shakespeare, Julius Caesar
29.
“Death, as the Psalmist saith, is certain to all; all shall die.”
― William Shakespeare, Henry IV, Part 2
30.
“I were better to be eaten to death with a rust than to be scoured to nothing with perpetual motion.”
― William Shakespeare
31.
“To-morrow, and to-morrow, and to-morrow, creeps in this petty pace from day to day, to the last syllable of recorded time; and all our yesterdays have lighted fools the way to dusty death.”
― William Shakespeare, Macbeth
Shakespeare Quotes On Life And Death
32.
“Life… is a paradise To what we fear of death.”
― William Shakespeare, Measure for Measure
33.
“The weariest and most loathed worldly life that age, ache, penury, and imprisonment can lay on nature is a paradise to what we fear of death.”
― William Shakespeare, Measure for Measure
34.
“Her blood is settled, and her joints are stiff; Life and these lips have long been separated: Death lies on her like an untimely frost Upon the sweetest flower of all the field.”
― William Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet
35.
“Thus ready for the way of life or death, I wait the sharpest blow, Antiochus.”
― William Shakespeare, Pericles, Prince of Tyre
Symbols of death:
When we look around, we see symbols of death everywhere. Here we explore 12 symbols of death from around the world to show how culture affects our perspective on this common theme. There are:
- Tombstones
- Skull
- Raven
- Vultures
- Black cats
- Red poppies
- Cypress trees
- Hyacinth
- Crossbones
- Candles
- Flag at half-mast
- The color black
FAQs Related to Shakespeare Quotes on Death
When did William Shakespeare die?
William Shakespeare died on April 23, 1616.
Where was Shakespeare buried?
Holy Trinity Church, Stratford-upon-Avon, United Kingdom.
What is Shakespeare's famous nickname?
Shakespeare’s famous nickname is The Bard of Avon.
What color means death?
Black is the color of death.
There are many thoughts and quotes on death that we can turn to when faced with this inevitable event. Shakespeare’s words may provide comfort for those who have lost someone or help inspire us in tough times. What do you think after reading Shakespeare’s quotes on death? We would love to hear from you. Using the comment box, please share your thoughts!
See also:
Shakespeare Quotes On Beauty
Shakespeare Quotes Friendship
Shakespeare Quotes about Sleep
Shakespeare Quotes About Women
Shakespeare Quotes About Mothers
