30 Best 'Much Ado About Nothing' Quotes By William Shakespeare
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'Much Ado About Nothing' was written by English playwright William Shakespeare in 1958 and 1959 and was published in 1623.
The comedy play by Shakespeare has been adapted a lot of times over the years in all forms of media. The play revolves around the comic misunderstandings between two pairs of lovers - Claudio and Hero, Benedick and Beatrice.
Don John, the antagonist tries to cause trouble in the relationship of Claudio and Hero while Benedick and Beatrice keep fighting with each other through most of the play. In order to marry Hero, John turns Claudio against her through treachery.
However, the couples finally get to know the truth. The couples - Claudio, Benedick, Beatrice, and Hero are happily married under Don Pedro. No specific character said 'Much Ado About Nothing'.
The play's main message is to be careful about lies and deception - as they all may not be evil. This article will share the best 'Much Ado About Nothing' quotes by Shakespeare which literature-loving students must know.
If you liked the quotes from this play by William Shakespeare, check out famous 'Hamlet' quotes and [Shakespeare love quotes].
Important 'Much Ado About Nothing' Quotes
This subcategory has a selection of some well-known Shakespeare 'Much Ado About Nothing' quotes. From Shakespeare describing "men were deceivers ever, One foot in sea and one on shore, To one thing constant never" to Benedick saying "When I said I would die a bachelor, I just meant that I didn’t think I’d live till I were married."
Even Claudio has some very funny dialogues about love. The dialogue where Beatrice says Bendick "hath no beard is less than a man" is also important.
1. "Sigh no more, ladies, sigh no more; Men were deceivers ever, One foot in sea and one on shore, To one thing constant never."
- Balthasar, Act 2 Scene 3.
2. "In time the savage bull doth bear the yoke."
- Don Pedro, Act 1 Scene 1.
3. "Let me be that I am and seek not to alter me."
- Don John, Act 1 Scene 3.
4. "Let every eye negotiate for itself And trust no agent, for beauty is a witch."
- Claudio, Act 2 Scene 1.
5. "For man is a giddy thing, and this is my conclusion."
- Benedick, Act 5 Scene 1.
6. "He that hath a beard is more than a youth, and he that hath no beard is less than a man; and he that is more than a youth is not for me, and he that is less than a man, I am not for him."
- Beatrice, Act 2 Scene 1.
7. "Nature never framed a woman’s heart Of prouder stuff than that of Beatrice. Disdain and scorn ride sparkling in her eyes..."
- Hero, Act 3 Scene 1.
8. "For it falls out
That what we have we prize not to the worth
Whiles we enjoy it, but being lacked and lost,
Why, then we rack the value, then we find
The virtue that possession would not show us
While it was ours."
- Friar, Act 4 Scene 1.
'Much Ado About Nothing' Quotes By Beatrice
Beatrice is one of the boldest Shakespeare heroines and she has many memorable quotes in the play. She is the best friend of another heroine, Hero, and they are of the same age.
She even says that she would "rather hear my dog bark at a crow than a man swear he loves me". When Leonato, her uncle asks whether she would marry, she gives a fitting reply and rather asks her friends to not lament by saying "sigh no more ladies".
She ultimately falls in love with Benedick - the other hero and Don Pedro blesses their marriage as well. This subcategory has a selection of 'Much Ado About Nothing' Beatrice quotes.
9. "I had rather hear my dog bark at a crow than a man swear he loves me."
- Beatrice, Act 1 Scene 1.
10. "I love you with so much of my heart that none is left to protest."
- Beatrice, Act 4 Scene 1.
11. " 'Well, niece, I hope to see you one day fitted with a husband.'
'Not till God make men of some other metal than earth.'"
- Beatrice to Leonato, Act 2 Scene 1.
12. " 'What, my dear Lady Disdain! are you yet living?'
'Is it possible disdain should die while she hath such meet food to feed it as Signior Benedick?' "
- William Shakespeare, 'Much Ado About Nothing'.
13. "'I can see he's not in your good books,' said the messenger.
'No, and if he were I would burn my library."
- Beatrice, Act 1 Scene 1.
14. " 'Against my will I am sent to bid you come in to dinner.'
'Fair Beatrice, I thank you for your pains.' "
- Beatrice to Benedick, Act 2 Scene 3.
15. "Would it not grieve a woman to be overmastered with a pierce of valiant dust? to make an account of her life to a clod of wayward marl?"
- Beatrice, Act 2 Scene 1.
Humorous 'Much Ado About Nothing' Quotes
Every quote from 'Much Ado About Nothing' is hilarious especially due to the banter between Benedick and Beatrice. They actually love each other but pretend to hate each other throughout - however, with a messenger here and there, they finally fall in love.
After all, they carry so much love in their "heart that none is left to protest". Dogberry the messenger is one of the men who pretends he knows the world so well. However, Dogberry adds to the humor through his antics.
Even Benedick has some sarcastic remarks where he tells his "horse had the speed of your tongue" to Beatrice. He also says they were too "wise to woo peaceably".
16. "When I said I would die a bachelor, I did not think I should live till I were married."
- Benedick, Act 2 Scene 3.
17. "Love me!... Why?"
- Benedick, Act 2 Scene 3.
18. "Tax not so bad a voice to slander music any more than once."
- Balthasar, Act 2 Scene 3.
19. "Is it not strange that sheep's guts could hail souls out of men's bodies?"
- Benedick, Act 2 Scene 3.
20. "You are thought here to the most senseless and fit man for the job."
- Dogberry, Act 3 Scene 3.
21. "I wish my horse had the speed of your tongue."
- Benedick, Act 1 Scene 1.
22. "Thou and I are too wise to woo peaceably."
- Benedick, Act 5 Scene 2.
23. "Pardon me: I was born to speak all mirth and no matter."
- Beatrice, Act 2 Scene 1.
'Much Ado About Nothing' Quotes About Love
The play ultimately teaches us that loving relationships should be built on confidence, trust, and faith in each other. Beatrice and Benedick are shining examples of the love that Shakespeare wanted to portray and Beatrice even confesses to Benedick that she loves him with "much of my heart".
Claudio and Hero on the other hand had a shallow relationship with less love which was easily broken through trickery and lies by the villain Don Pedro. Benedick says that there is "nothing in the world" he loves more than Beatrice.
Hero's father Leonato also contributed to the chaos but the man ultimately gave his blessings when Leonato saw his mistake.
After all, "cupid kills with arrows, some with traps." This subcategory has William Shakespeare quotes and 'Much Ado About Nothing' love quotes.
24. "I do love nothing in the world so well as you. Is not that strange?"
- Benedick, Act 4 Scene 1.
25. "I do much wonder that one man, seeing how much another man is a fool when he dedicates his behaviors to love, will, after he hath laughed at such shallow follies in others, become the argument of his own scorn by falling in love..."
- Benedick, Act 2 Scene 3.
26. "For which of my bad parts didst thou first fall in love with me?"
- Benedick, Act 5 Scene 2.
27. "Friendship is constant in all other things Save in the office and affairs of love."
- Claudio, Act 2 Scene 1.
28. "I will live in thy heart, die in thy lap, and be buried in thy eyes."
- Benedick, Act 5 Scene 2.
29. "Some Cupid kills with arrows, some with traps."
- Hero, Act 3 Scene 1.
30. "When you depart from me sorrow abides and happiness takes his leave."
- Leonato, Act 1 Scene 1.
Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly quotes for everyone to enjoy! If you liked our suggestions for 'Much Ado About Nothing' quotes then why not take a look at Othello quotes or 'Taming of the Shrew' quotes.
Main image credit: Massimo Todaro / Shutterstock.com
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Bachelor of Arts specializing in English, Master of Arts specializing in English
Rajnandini RoychoudhuryBachelor of Arts specializing in English, Master of Arts specializing in English
With a Master of Arts in English, Rajnandini has pursued her passion for the arts and has become an experienced content writer. She has worked with companies such as Writer's Zone and has had her writing skills recognized by publications such as The Telegraph. Rajnandini is also trilingual and enjoys various hobbies such as music, movies, travel, philanthropy, writing her blog, and reading classic British literature.
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