30+ Twelfth Night Quotes For Budding Shakespeare Buffs

Georgia Stone
Dec 12, 2023 By Georgia Stone
Originally Published on Feb 02, 2021
'Twelfth Night' famous quote will remind you why it's the best play.
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Age: 0-99
Read time: 7.3 Min

Written around 1601–1602, 'Twelfth Night' is considered one of the best plays written by William Shakespeare.

'Twelfth Night' is the story of twin siblings Viola and Sebastian who have been shipwrecked. In the play, they both believe the others have drowned.

Knowing nothing about his brother, Viola decides to disguises herself as a young man and, under the name of Cesario, gets a job as a servant for Duke Orsino. Later on, Orsino fell in love with Voila for her resourcefulness, loyalty, courage, and brains.

One of the famous quotes from the play is "But I am a great eater of beef, and I believe that does harm to my wit" said by Sir Andrew, Act 1, Scene 3.

So, if you are looking for 'Twelfth Night' famous quotes, then you are on the right page. We have compiled a list of quotes by Viola, 'Twelfth Night' quotes about love, and 'Twelfth Night' important quotes that will make you want to read the play again.

You can also check out [Shakespeare Love Quotes] and A Midsummer Night's Dream Quotes articles.

Funny Quotes

12th Night has been adapted countless times since it was first written.

Here we have mentioned some of the funny quotes from 12th night said by Olivia, Orsino, and more. William Shakespeare's Twelfth Night' quotes are about some people simply achieving greatness, while others have greatness thrust upon them.

Here we have compiled a list of 'Twelfth Night' Feste quotes that are funny and meaningful and Duke Orsino quotes are equally important to metaphors in 'Twelfth Night' speeches. Here we have listed some funny quotes from the play.

1. "If music be the food of love, play on, Give me excess of it that, surfeiting,

The appetite may sicken and so die. That strain again, it had a dying fall."

- Duke Orsino, Act 1, Scene 1.

2. "But as well? Then you are mad, indeed,

if you be no better in your wits than a fool."

- Feste, Act 4, Scene 2.

3. "That instant was I turned into a hart,

And my desires, like fell and cruel hounds,

E'er since pursue me."

- Duke Orsino, Act 1, Scene 1.

4. “Stand you awhile aloof. [To VIOLA] Cesario,

Thou knowest no less but all. I have unclasped

To thee the book even of my secret soul.”

-Duke Orsino, Act 1, Scene 1.

5. "Sir Toby: Art any more than a steward? Dost, thou think because thou art virtuous there shall be no more cakes and ale?

Feste: Yes, by Saint Anne, and ginger shall be hot i' th' mouth too."

- Act 2, Scene 3.

6. "I'll do my best To woo your lady. – Yet, barful strife!

Whoever I woo, myself would be his wife."

- Duke Orsino, Act 1, Scene 4.

7. "But falls into abatement and low price

Even in a minute. So full of shapes is fancy

That it alone is high fantastical."

- Duke Orsino, Act 1, Scene 1.

8. “Well, God gives them wisdom that has it. And those that are fools, let them use their talents.”

- Feste, Act 1, Scene 5.

9. "Many a good hanging prevents a bad marriage, and, for turning away, let summer bear it out."

- Feste, Act 1, Scene 5.

10. "No, the good swabber, I am to hull here a little longer.

Some mollification for your giant, sweet lady."

- Voila, Act 1, Scene 5.

Love Quotes

No one does romance better than William Shakespeare. These 'Twelfth Night' love quotes by Olivia, 'Twelfth Night' quotes by Duke Orsino about love can help the reader understand how better life is when love is in.

We want to make sure our readers understand that too, so we have compiled a list of love quotes by all the major characters from the play. We hope you'll love them as much as we do.

11. "I would I had bestowed that time in the tongues, that I have in fencing, dancing, and bear-baiting: O, had I but followed the arts!"

- Sir Andrew Aguecheek, Act 1, Scene 3.

12. "What is love? ’Tis not hereafter;

Present mirth hath present laughter;

What’s to come is still unsure; In delay there lies no plenty."

- Feste, Act 2, Scene 3.

13. "O spirit of love, how quick and fresh art thou

That, notwithstanding thy capacity

Receiveth as the sea, naught enters there,"

- Duke Orsino, Act 1, Scene 1.

14. “If this fall into thy hand, revolve. In my stars, I am above thee, but be not afraid of greatness. Some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon 'em.”

― Malvolio, Act 2, Scene 5.

15. "Lady, you are the cruelest she alive

If you will lead these graces to the grave

And leave the world no copy."

- Viola, Act 1, Scene 5.

16. "We men may say more, swear more, but indeed

Our shows are more than will, for still, we prove

Much in our vows, but little in our love."

- Voila, Act 2, Scene 4.

17. "Why, so I do, the noblest that I have.

Oh, when my eyes did see Olivia first,

Methought she purged the air of pestilence."

- Duke Orsino, Act 1, Scene 1.

18. “Wit, a ’t be thy will, put me into good fooling! Those wits, that think they have thee, do very oft prove fools. ”

- Feste, Act 1, Scene 5.

19. "Now the melancholy God protects thee,

and the tailor make thy doublet of changeable taffeta,

for thy mind is a very opal."

- Feste, Act 2, Scene 4.

20. “Journeys end in lovers meeting.

Every wise man's son doth know.”

― Feste, Act 2, Scene 3.

Malvolio Quotes

Here we have mentioned some wonderful 'Twelfth Night' Malvolio quotes which are about how important humor is in life. Though Malvolio was the antagonist of the play, he depicted several themes of the play, which are desire and love, melancholy, madness, deception, disguise, and performance, and so much more.

As the name suggests, the play 'Twelfth Night' takes place around the Christmas season and separation between brother and sister, survival, and more. Here are some Shakespeare 'Twelfth Night' quotes.

21. "Go, hang yourselves all! You are idle shallow things:

I am not of your element: you shall know more hereafter."

- Malvolio, Act 3, Scene 4.

22. "Oh, ho! Do you come near me now? No worse man than Sir Toby to look to me. This concurs directly with the letter. She sends him on purpose that I may appear stubborn to him, for she incites me to that in the letter. "

- Malvolio, Act 3, Scene 4.

23. "Yes, and shall do till the pangs of death shake him:

infirmity, that decays the wise, doth ever makes the better fool. "

- Malvolio, Act 1, Scene 5.

24. "This but fortune, all his a fortune. Maria once told me she did affect me, and I have heard herself come thus near, that, should she fancy, it should be one of my complexions. "

- Malvolio, Act 2, Scene 5.

25. “If you prized my lady’s favor at anything more than contempt,

you would not give means for this uncivil rule”

- Malvolio, Act 2, Scene 3.

26. "She returns this ring to you, sir: you might have saved me my pains,

to have taken it away from yourself."

- Malvolio, Act 2, Scene 2.

27. "Made the most notorious geck and gull."

- Malvolio, Act 5, Scene 1.

28. "Nothing that can be can come between me and the full prospect of my hopes. Well, Jove, not I, is the doer of this, and he is to be thanked. Oh ho! Look at me now!"

- Malvolio, Act 3, Scene 4.

29. "My masters, are you mad? or what are you?

Have ye no wit, manners, nor honesty, but to gabble like."

- Malvolio, Act 2, Scene 3.

30. “ 'I may command where I adore.' Why she may command me. I serve her, she is my lady. Why this is evident to any formal capacity. There is no obstruction in this.”

- Malvolio, Act 2, Scene 5.

31. "And then to have the humor of state;

and after a demure travel of regard, telling them I know my."

- Malvolio, Act 2, Scene 5.

32. "I'll be revenged on the whole pack of you"

- Malvolio, Act 5, Scene 1.

33. "And tell me, in the modesty of honor /

Why you have given me such clear lights of favor."

- Malvolio, Act 5, Scene 1.

34. "Besides, you waste the treasure of your time with a foolish knight."

- Malvolio, Act 2, Scene 5.

Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly quotes for everyone to enjoy! If you liked our suggestions for 'Twelfth Night' Quotes then why not take a look at [Shakespeare Quotes About Death] or 'The Tempest' Quotes.

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Written by Georgia Stone

Bachelor of Arts specializing in French with Film Studies, Bachelor of Arts (Year Abroad) specializing in Literature, History, Language, Media, and Art

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Georgia StoneBachelor of Arts specializing in French with Film Studies, Bachelor of Arts (Year Abroad) specializing in Literature, History, Language, Media, and Art

Georgia is an experienced Content Manager with a degree in French and Film Studies from King's College London and Bachelors degree from Université Paris-Sorbonne. Her passion for exploring the world and experiencing different cultures was sparked during her childhood in Switzerland and her year abroad in Paris. In her spare time, Georgia enjoys using London's excellent travel connections to explore further afield.

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