25 Best 'The Tempest' Quotes By William Shakespeare

'The Tempest' was written between 1610 and 1611 and is one of the last plays written by William Shakespeare.

The play is centered on the protagonist Prospero's life, who is a powerful sorcerer ousted from his kingdom along with his daughter Miranda to a remote island where he resides with his two servants, Caliban and Ariel. It is known for being an enchanting tale that includes many magical elements and songs, and falls under the genre of tragi-comedy.

The tempest in the play is highly symbolic, it is a storm that surrounds the island to protect it from being discovered.  It's no mystery that Shakespeare was a good playwright with a good number of plays backing his reputation, and this is one of his most famous plays.

To learn more about 'The Tempest' here is a list of quotes by Trinculo, Ferdinand, Prospero and Miranda, as well as many other characters from this nothing-short-of-enchanting play.

If you like our content, you can also check out these [Shakespeare love quotes] and these 'A Midsummer Night's Dream' quotes.

Important Quotes From 'The Tempest'

Shakespeare has given the literary world a treasure trove of quotes. Here is a list of quotes from 'The Tempest', from characters including Trinculo, Prospero and Miranda.

1. "Some kinds of baseness are nobly undergone, and most poor matters point to rich ends. This my mean task would be as heavy to me as odious, but the mistress which I serve quickens what’s dead and makes my labours pleasures."

-Ferdinand, Act 3, Scene 1.

2. "There they hoist us, to cry to th’ sea that roared to us, to sigh to th’ winds whose pity, sighing back again, did us but loving wrong."

-Prospero, Act 1, Scene 2.

3. "Be not afeard. The isle is full of noises, sounds, and sweet airs, that give delight and hurt not."

-Caliban, Act 3, Scene 2.

4. "There be some sports are painful, and their labour delight in them sets off."

-Ferdinand, Act 3, Scene 1.

5. "Sometimes a thousand twangling instruments will hum about mine ears, and sometime voices that, if I then had waked after long sleep will make me sleep again; and then in dreaming the clouds methought would open and show riches ready to drop upon me, that when I waked I cried to dream again."

-Caliban, Act 3, Scene 2.

6. "Th’ occasion speaks thee, and my strong imagination sees a crown dropping upon thy head."

-Antonio, Act 2, Scene 1.

7. "I perceive these lords at this encounter do so much admire that they devour their reason and scarce think their eyes do offices of truth, their words are natural breath."

-Prospero, Act 5, Scene 1.

8. "That a monster should be such a natural!"

-Trinculo, Act 3, Scene 2.

9. "Be collected. No more amazement. Tell your piteous heart there’s no harm done."

-Prospero, Act 1, Scene 2.

10. "If thou more murmur’st, I will rend an oak and peg thee in his knotty entrails till thou hast howled away twelve winters."

-Prospero, Act 1, Scene 2.

11. "Yea, all which it inherit, shall dissolve; And, like this insubstantial pageant faded, leave not a rack behind. We are such stuff as dreams are made on, and our little life is rounded with a sleep."

-Prospero, Act 4, Scene 1.

12. "Me poor man, my library was dukedom large enough."

-Prospero,  Act 1, Scene 2.

13. "Our revels now are ended.

These our actors, as I foretold you, were all spirits, and are melted into air, into thin air; and, like the baseless fabric of this vision, the cloud-capped towers, the gorgeous palaces, the solemn temples, the great globe itself, yea, all which it inherit, shall dissolve; and, like this insubstantial pageant faded, leave not a rack behind."

-Prospero, Act 4, Scene 1.

14. "We are such stuff as dreams are made on, and our little life is rounded with a sleep."

-Prospero, Act 4, Scene 1.

15. "Misery acquaints a man with strange bedfellows."

-Trinculo, Act 2, Scene 2.

16. "You taught me language, and my profit on ’t is I know how to curse. The red plague rid you for learning me your language!"

-Caliban, Act 1, Scene 2.

'The Tempest' Quotes By Ariel

Ariel is a spirit enslaved by Prospero in the island. Here is a list Ariel quotes from 'The Tempest' to explore.

17. "I prithee remember I have done thee worthy service, told thee no lies, made thee no mistakings, served without or grudge or grumblings. Thou did promise to bate me a full year."

-Ariel, Act 1, Scene 2.

18. "Come unto these yellow sands, and then take hands. Curtsied when you have, and kissed the wild waves whist. Foot it featly here and there, and, sweet sprites, bear the burden. Hark, hark!"

-Ariel, Act 1, Scene 2.

19. "Your charm so strongly works ’em that, if you now beheld them, your affections would become tender."

-Ariel, Act 5, Scene 1.

20. "Is there more toil? Since thou dost give me pains, let me remember thee what thou hast promised, which is not yet performed me."

-Ariel, Act 1, Scene 2.

Miranda Quotes From 'The Tempest'

Miranda is Prospero's naive and beautiful daughter. This list of quotes by Miranda will make you fall in love with both Prospero and Miranda in 'The Tempest'.

21. "I weep at mine unworthiness, that dare not offer what I desire to give, and much less take what I shall die to want. But this is trifling, and all the more it seeks to hide itself the bigger bulk it shows. Hence, bashful cunning, and prompt me, plain and holy innocence."

-Miranda, Act 3, Scene 1.

22. "I am your wife, if you will marry me. If not, I’ll die your maid. To be your fellow you may deny me, but I’ll be your servant whether you will or no"

-Miranda, Act 3, Scene 1.

23. "I prattle something too wildly, and my father’s precepts I therein do forget."

-Miranda, Act 3, Scene 1.

24. "I might call him a thing divine, for nothing natural I ever saw so noble."

-Miranda, Act 1, Scene 2.

25. "O wonder! How many goodly creatures are there here! How beauteous mankind is! O brave new world that has such people in ’t!"

-Miranda, Act 5, 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 'The Tempest' quotes then why not take a look at [Shakespeare's quotes about death], or these famous 'Hamlet' quotes for more?

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