Introduction Take notice, that the Decree of the President of Uzbekistan of 3 October, 2019, No. Dp-5843 “On measures to radically enhance the personnel policy

There are more things in heaven and earth…

There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio,
Than are dreamt of in your philosophy.
Hamlet, I.v.
Hamlet’s reaction to learning that his father’s ghost has been seen by his friend Horatio is often quoted as a way of saying that the world is more mysterious than we give it credit for.

If you prick us…

If you prick us, do we not bleed?
The Merchant of Venice, III.i.
This line, in which Shylock insists that Jews are no less human than Christians, has become a standard response to prejudice of all kinds.

The course of true love…

The course of true love never did run smooth.
A Midsummer Night’s Dream, I.i.
Lysander’s attempt to reassure his beloved Hermia that they’ll find a way to be together has become a proverb.

Friends, Romans, Countrymen…

Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears.
I come to bury Caesar, not to praise him.
Julius Caesar, III.ii.
The opening of Mark Anthony’s eulogy for Julius Caesar is often quoted as an example of cunning and persuasive speechmaking.

Life's but a walking shadow…

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.
Macbeth, V.v.
Macbeth gives this speech when he learns that his wife, Lady Macbeth, has died. It’s a famous and powerful statement of nihilism and despair.

All the world's a stage…

All the world’s a stage,
And all the men and women merely players.
As You Like It, II.vii.
Shakespeare’s characters often compare the world to a theater (as in the Macbeth quote above). This speech, given by Jaques, is the best-known example.

What's in a name?

What’s in a name? That which we call a rose
By any other word would smell as sweet.
Romeo and Juliet, II.ii.
Juliet protests that Romeo’s name isn’t part of who he is. This quote is often used to suggest that words don’t matter, but readers of Romeo and Juliet know that in fact Romeo’s name matters a great deal to the play’s story.