“The Bard of Avon” is widely regarded as the best English language writer ever. Shakespeare is believed to have been born on 23 April 1564 and passed away on his 52nd birthday, on 23 April 1616. Shakespeare produced most of his famous works, viz., Romeo and Juliet, Hamlet, King Lear, Macbeth, Julius Caesar, and others, between the ages of 25 and 49. His authorship consists of about 38 plays, 154 sonnets, two long narrative poems, and several other poems.
Not many particulars of Shakespeare’s private life are documented. There is much speculation of various aspects of Shakespeare’s life, including the authorship and chronology of his works, his physical appearance, and religious affiliation. Countless literary scholars and historians have dedicated their careers to throw light on the mystery of Shakespeare.
Shakespeare’s epitaph reads,
Good friend, for Jesus’ sake forbeare
To dig the dust enclosed here.
Blessed be the man that spares these stones,
And cursed be he that moves my bones.
Suggested Resources
- William Shakespeare Complete Works (Modern Library)
- The Comedy of Errors – The Works of William Shakespeare [Cambridge Edition]
- The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (MIT)
- Annotated guide to the scholarly Shakespeare resources available on the Internet
- Plays by William Shakespeare
Quotations by William Shakespeare
If all the year were playing holidays, to sport would be as tedious as to work: but when they seldom come, they wished for come, and nothing pleaseth but rare accidents.
—William Shakespeare (British Playwright)
The lunatic, the lover, and the poet, are of imagination all compact.
—William Shakespeare (British Playwright)
Thieves for their robbery have authority when judges steal themselves.
—William Shakespeare (British Playwright)
Do you not know I am a woman? when I think, I must speak.
—William Shakespeare (British Playwright)
The jury, passing on the prisoner’s life, may have in the sworn twelve a thief or two guiltier than him they try.
—William Shakespeare (British Playwright)
How far that little candle throws his beams! So shines a good deed in a naughty world.
—William Shakespeare (British Playwright)
The devil can cite Scripture for his purpose. An evil soul, producing holy witness, is like a villain with a smiling cheek; a goodly apple rotten at the heart.
—William Shakespeare (British Playwright)
Love looks not with the eyes, but with the mind,|And therefore is winged Cupid painted blind.
—William Shakespeare (British Playwright)
Striving to better, oft we mar what’s well.
—William Shakespeare (British Playwright)
Foul cankering rust the hidden treasure frets,|But gold that’s put to use more gold begets.
—William Shakespeare (British Playwright)