Quotes About Power

Now, Hamlet, where's Polonius? HAMLET At supper. KING CLAUDIUS At supper! where? HAMLET Not where he eats, but where he is eaten: a certain convocation of politic worms are e'en at him. Your worm is your only emperor for diet: we fat all creatures else to fat us, and we fat ourselves for maggots: your fat king and your lean beggar is but variable service, two dishes, but to one table: that's the end.

Virtue is chok'd with foul ambition

I thrice presented him a kingly crown. Which he did thrice refuse. Was this ambition?

The abuse of greatness is when it disjoins remorse from power.

Woe to that land that's govern'd by a child!

in that small [time] most greatly lived this star of England: Fortune made his sword, By which the world's best garden he achiev'd And left it to his son imperial lord. Henry the Sixth, in infant bands crown'd King of France and England did this King succeed; Whose state so many of had the managing, That they lost France and made his England bleed.

Kingdoms are clay: our dungy earth alike Feeds beast as man.

Ah, kill me with your weapon, not with words.

Music oft hath such a charm To make bad good, and good provoke to harm.

What means this shouting? I do fear, the people Choose Caesar for their king.

Sycorax has grown into a hoop

Brief as the lightning in the collied night; That, in a spleen, unfolds both heaven and Earth, And ere a man hath power to say Behold! The jaws of darkness do devour it up. So quick bright things come to confusion.

I think he'll be to Rome as is the osprey to the fish, who takes it by sovereignty of nature.

Caliban: As I told thee before, I am subject to a tyrant, a sorcerer that by his cunning hath cheated me of the island.

And Caesar shall go forth.

every thing in your hand if you bi lave on God

But you are wise, Or else you love not, for to be wise and love Exceeds man's might; that dwells with gods above.

Force should be right; or rather, right and wrong, between whose endless jar justice resides, should lose their names, and so should justice too. Then everything includes itself in power, power into will, will into appetite; and appetite, an universal wolf, so doubly seconded with will and power, must make perforce an universal prey and at last eat up himself.

For gnarling sorrow hath less power to bite the man that mocks at it and sets it light.

Action is eloquence.

And with a little pin bores through his castle wall and farewell king.

Whoever is born on a day I forget to send a message to Antony will die a beggar. Bring ink and paper, Charmian. Welcome, my good Alexas. Charmian, did I ever love Caesar as much as this? Oh, that splendid Caesar! May you choke on any other sentiments like that! Say, "That splendid Antony." The courageous Caesar! By Isis, I'll give you bloody teeth if you ever compare Caesar with Antony, my best man among men.

His nature is too noble for the world: He would not flatter Neptune for his trident, Or Jove for's power to thunder. His heart's his mouth: What his breast forges, that his tongue must vent; And, being angry, does forget that ever He heard the name of Death.

Then forth, dear countrymen: let us deliver Our puissance into the hand of God, Putting it straight in expedition. Cheerly to sea; the signs of war advance: No king of England, if not king of France.