Top 70 Macbeth Important Quotes From Shakespeare's Scottish Play

Writvik Gupta
Dec 12, 2023 By Writvik Gupta
Originally Published on Mar 18, 2021
Edited by Isobel Murphy
Lona Pilgrimage Facts

The complete name of the play 'Macbeth' is 'The Tragedy Of Macbeth'.

The play 'Macbeth' is a tragic play that was written by William Shakespeare. The play was performed in 1606 for the first time.

The plot of the play is all about the Scottish general Macbeth fighting for King Duncan. He wants to become the King of Scotland himself.

This thought arises in Macbeth's mind when three witches tell him that he is going to become the King of Scotland. To get the throne, Macbeth kills King Duncan. The reign led by Macbeth is tyrannical and bloody and in the end, his reign ends when combined forces from England and Scotland attack him.

The play teaches that destruction is unavoidable when a person has ambition with no moral values and constraints. The first line from the play: "So foul and fair a day I have not seen" is very important.

This is because this line connects the words by the witches with Macbeth and also conveys a message that the play is all about moral confusion. Other than this, there are more famous lines from the play. One among those is "There’s daggers in men’s smiles.

The near in blood, the nearer bloody." Another is, "I have no spur to prick the sides of my intent, but only vaulting ambition, which o'erleaps itself and falls on th' other."

This is one of the most important plays and it is still performed in theatres today. 'Macbeth' is famously known as "the Scottish play". All of the characters in the play like Lady Macbeth, the three witches, and others make it very interesting.

So, we have collected 'Macbeth' act 1 important quote ideas, 'Macbeth' act 2 important quote ideas, 'Macbeth' act 3 important quotes, 'Macbeth' act 4 important quotes, and finally 'Macbeth' act 5 important quotes for you to read. Look out for some important Lady Macbeth quotes too!

If you liked reading these quotes, thou should also check out these Lady Macbeth quotes and 'Macbeth' ambition quotes.


 

The Most Important Quotes In 'Macbeth'

Here, we have collected some of the most important quotes from the play 'Macbeth' written by William Shakespeare. Look out for the most famous line in 'Macbeth': "Double, double toil and trouble; Fire burn, and cauldron bubble," said by the three witches.

1. "When shall we three meet again

In thunder, lightning, or in rain?

When the hurly burly ‘s done,

When the battle's lost and won."

- William Shakespeare, 'Macbeth', Act I, Scene I.

2. "Fair is foul, and foul is fair."

- William Shakespeare, 'Macbeth', Act I, Scene I.

3. "Look like the innocent flower,

But be the serpent under it."

- Lady Macbeth, 'Macbeth', Act I, Scene V.

4. "Let fall thy blade on vulnerable crests; I bear a charmed life, which must not yield to one of woman born."

- William Shakespeare, 'Macbeth', Act V, Scene VIII.

5. "If it were done when 'tis done, then 'twere well

It were done quickly."

- William Shakespeare, 'Macbeth', Act I, Scene VII.

6. "False face must hide what the false heart doth know."

- William Shakespeare, 'Macbeth', Act I, Scene VII.

7. "What bloody man is that?"

- King Duncan, 'Macbeth', Act I, Scene II.

8. "It was the owl that shrieked, the fatal bellman,

Which gives the stern'st good-night."

- William Shakespeare, 'Macbeth', Act II, Scene II.

9. "There's no art

To find the mind's construction in the face."

- William Shakespeare, 'Macbeth', Act I, Scene IV.

10.  "It is too full o’ the milk of human kindness."

- Lady Macbeth, 'Macbeth', Act I, Scene V.

11. "Yet do I fear thy nature..."

- Lady Macbeth, 'Macbeth', Act I, Scene V.

12. "I’ll make assurance double sure."

- William Shakespeare, 'Macbeth', Act IV, Scene I.

13. "If you can look into the seeds of time, And say which grain will grow, and which will not, speak."

- Banquo, 'Macbeth', Act I, Scene III.

14. "Be bloody, bold, and resolute. Laugh to scorn the power of man, for none of woman born shall harm Macbeth."

- William Shakespeare, 'Macbeth', Act IV, Scene I.

15. "That which hath made them drunk hath made me bold:

What hath quenched them hath given me fire."

- Lady Macbeth, 'Macbeth', Act II, Scene II.

16. "A falcon, towering in her pride of place,

Was by a mousing owl hawked at and killed."

- William Shakespeare, 'Macbeth', Act II, Scene IV.

17. "The patient

Must minister to himself."

- Doctor, 'Macbeth', Act V, Scene III.

18. "Receive what cheer you may. The night is long that never finds the day."

- William Shakespeare, 'Macbeth', Act IV, Scene III.

19. "Nothing is

But what is not."

- William Shakespeare, 'Macbeth', Act I, Scene III.

20. "Double, double toil and trouble;

Fire burn, and cauldron bubble."

- Three Witches, 'Macbeth', Act IV, Scene I.

The Best Quotes From 'Macbeth'

Read 'Macbeth' quotes from Lady Macbeth and other characters from the play 'Macbeth' in this section.

21. "Things without all remedy

Should be without regard: What’s done is done."

- William Shakespeare, 'Macbeth', Act III, Scene II.

22. "What’s done cannot be undone."

- Lady Macbeth, 'Macbeth', Act V, Scene I.

23. "Angels are bright still, though the brightest fell;

Though all things foul would wear the brows of grace,

Yet grace must still look so."

- Malcolm, 'Macbeth', Act IV, Scene III.

24. "To know my deed, ’twere best not know myself."

- William Shakespeare, 'Macbeth', Act II, Scene II.

25. "Will all great Neptune's ocean wash this blood

Clean from my hand?"

- William Shakespeare, 'Macbeth', Act II, Scene II.

26. "O, full of scorpions is my mind!"

- William Shakespeare, 'Macbeth', Act II, Scene II.

27. "False face must hide what the false heart doth know."

- William Shakespeare, 'Macbeth', Act I, Scene VII.

28. "The labor we delight in physics pain."

- William Shakespeare, 'Macbeth', Act II, Scene III.

29. "The weird sisters, hand in hand,

Posters of the sea and land,

Thus do go about, about."

- William Shakespeare, 'Macbeth', Act I, Scene III.

30. "One fell swoop."

- Macduff, 'Macbeth', Act IV, Scene III.

31. "Here’s the smell of blood.

All the perfumes of Arabia will not sweeten this little hand."

- William Shakespeare, 'Macbeth', Act V, Scene I.

32. "After life’s fitful fever he sleeps well."

- William Shakespeare, 'Macbeth', Act III, Scene II.

33. "The wine of life is drawn, and the mere lees is left this vault to brag of."

- William Shakespeare, 'Macbeth', Act II, Scene I.

34. "Nothing in his life became him like the leaving it; he died as one that had been studied in his death to throw away the dearest thing he owed, as 't were a careless trifle."

- William Shakespeare, 'Macbeth', Act I, Scene IV.

35. "It will have blood, they say: blood will have blood."

- William Shakespeare, 'Macbeth', Act III Scene IV.

36. "The love that follows us sometime is our trouble,

Which still we thank as love."

- William Shakespeare, 'Macbeth', Act I, Scene VI.

Famous 'Macbeth' Quotes

Here, you will find famous quotes from 'Macbeth' and some 'Macbeth' act 2 important quotes.

37. "Tongue nor heart

Cannot conceive nor name thee!"

- Macduff, 'Macbeth', Act II, Scene III.

38. "A little water clears us of this deed."

- William Shakespeare, 'Macbeth', Act II, Scene II.

39. "This castle hath a pleasant seat; the air

Nimbly and sweetly recommends itself

Unto our gentle senses."

- William Shakespeare, 'Macbeth', Act I, Scene VI.

40. "This is a sorry sight."

- William Shakespeare, 'Macbeth', Act II, Scene II.

41. "I dare do all that may become a man;

Who dares do more is none."

- William Shakespeare, 'Macbeth', Act I, Scene VII.

42. "Is this a dagger which I see before me,

The handle toward my hand?”

- William Shakespeare, 'Macbeth', Act II, Scene I.

43. "I am in blood steepp’d in so far, that, should I wade no more, returning were as tedious as go o’er."

- William Shakespeare, 'Macbeth', Act III, Scene IV.

44. "Leave no rubs nor botches in the work."

- William Shakespeare, 'Macbeth', Act III, Scene I.

45. "What's done cannot be undone."

- Lady Macbeth, 'Macbeth', Act V, Scene I.

46. "Come what come may, time and the hour run through the roughest day."

- William Shakespeare, 'Macbeth', Act I, Scene III.

47. "Present fears

Are less than horrible imaginings."

- King Duncan, 'Macbeth', Act I, Scene IV.

48. "Wherefore could I not pronounce 'Amen'?

I had most need of blessing, and 'Amen'

Stuck in my throat."

- William Shakespeare, 'Macbeth', Act II, Scene II.

49. "I have bought

Golden opinions from all sorts of people."

- William Shakespeare, 'Macbeth', Act I, Scene VII.

50. "Something wicked this way comes."

- Second Witch, 'Macbeth', Act IV, Scene I.

Essential 'Macbeth' Quotes

Here, you will find important quotes from 'Macbeth' act 1 and more from different scenes and acts.

51. "If chance will have me king, why, chance may crown me

Without my stir."

- William Shakespeare, 'Macbeth', Act I, Scene III.

52. "Nothing in his life

Became him like the leaving it."

- Malcolm, 'Macbeth', Act I, Scene IV.

53. "To show an unfelt sorrow is an office which the false man does easy."

- Malcolm, 'Macbeth', Act II, Scene II.

54. "Screw your courage to the sticking-place."

- William Shakespeare, 'Macbeth', Act I, Scene VII.

55. "Lay on, Macduff,

And damned be him that first cries, 'Hold, enough!'"

- William Shakespeare, 'Macbeth', Act V, Scene VII.

56. "It provokes the desire, but it takes away the performance."

- William Shakespeare, 'Macbeth', Act II, Scene III.

57. "A deed without a name.”

- Witches, 'Macbeth', Act IV, Scene I.

58. "My hands are of your color, but I shame

To wear a heart so white."

- William Shakespeare, 'Macbeth', Act II, Scene II.

59. "Letting 'I dare not' wait upon 'I would,'

Like the poor cat i' the adage."

- William Shakespeare, 'Macbeth', Act 1, Scene VII.

60. "Out, damned spot! out, I say!"

- Lady Macbeth, 'Macbeth', Act V, Scene I.

61. "Where we are,

There’s daggers in men’s smiles,

The near in blood, the nearer bloody."

- William Shakespeare, 'Macbeth', Act II, Scene III.

62. "We have scorched the snake, not killed it."

- William Shakespeare, 'Macbeth', Act III, Scene II.

63. "I have supp’d full with horrors; direness, familiar to my slaughterous thoughts cannot once start me."

- William Shakespeare, 'Macbeth', Act V, Scene V.

64. "When the battle's lost and won."

- William Shakespeare, 'Macbeth', Act I, Scene I.

65. "Out, out, brief candle! Life’s but a walking shadow, a poor player that struts and frets his hour upon the stage and then is heard no more. It is a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, Signifying nothing."

- William Shakespeare, 'Macbeth', Act V, Scene V.

66. "Confusion now hath made his masterpiece."

- William Shakespeare, 'Macbeth', Act II, Scene III.

67. "What! can the devil speak true?"

- Banquo, 'Macbeth', Act I, Scene III.

68. "I bear a charmed life."

- William Shakespeare, 'Macbeth', Act V, Scene VIII.

69. "There's husbandry in heaven;

Their candles are all out."

- William Shakespeare, 'Macbeth', Act II, Scene I.

70. "It is a tale

Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury,

Signifying nothing."

- William Shakespeare, 'Macbeth', Act V, Scene V.

Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly quotes for everyone to enjoy! If you liked our suggestions for 'Macbeth' important quotes, then why not take a look at these 'Macbeth' Witches quotes or 'The Tempest' quotes too?

Main image credit: lowsun / Shutterstock.com
Article image credit: Massimo Todaro / Shutterstock.com

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Written by Writvik Gupta

Writvik Gupta picture

Writvik Gupta

A professional content writer hailing from Kolkata, India, with extensive experience in the corporate sector, Writvik Gupta has worked with several reputed companies, including ITC WelcomHotel Jodhpur, Bharti AXA Life Insurance, Aryan Imaging, and Eduquity. He also serves as a consultant for a startup based in Bangalore. With a passion for the outdoors, Writvik enjoys trekking and traveling to remote destinations. He also has a keen interest in exploring various cuisines and regularly volunteers for social causes.

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