William Shakespeare (April 26, 1564 – April 23, 1616)

He is considered England's national poet and the greatest dramatist of all time. His plays, written between the late 16th and early 17th centuries, were performed by a small repertory company and are still performed more frequently today than those of any other writer. Fellow dramatist Ben Jonson called Shakespeare "not of an age, but for all time."

He is unmatched in his poetic imagination, his insight into the inner and outer workings of humanity, his use of an astonishingly rich language, and his skill in creating diverse theatrical imagery.

○ The fool doth think he is wise, but the wise man knows himself to be a fool.

○ It is not in the stars to hold our destiny but in ourselves.

○ Fear of loss is the root of all suffering.

○ Expectation is the root of all heartache.

○ Hear much, speak little.

○ If we are true to ourselves, we can be false to no man.

○ The course of true love never did run smooth.

○ There is no legacy so rich as honesty.

○ We know what we are, but know not what we may be.

○ Worry is a thief of joy.

○ It is above all things necessary to be true to oneself.

○ There is nothing either good or bad, but thinking makes it so.

○ Better three hours too soon than one minute too late.

○ To have great strength is good, but to use it like a giant is tyranny.

○ The coward dies many times before his death; the valiant never taste of death but once.

○ To be, or not to be, that is the question.

○ Waste no love on those who do not appreciate it.

○ 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?

○ To do the right thing is to do less wrong.

○ God gave you a face, but you made yourself another.

○ The web of our life is of a mingled yarn, good and ill together.

○ One touch of nature makes the whole world kin.