"If it were done when 'tis done, then 'twere well It were done quickly; if the assassination Could trammel up the consequence, and catch, With his surcease success; that but this blow Might be the be-all and the end-all here, But here, upon this bank and shoal of time, We'd jump the life to come. But in these cases We still have judgement here; that we but teach Bloody instructions, which being taught, return To plague the inventor: this even-handed justice Commends the ingredients of our poison'd chalice To our own lips. He's here in double trust: First, as I am his kinsman and his subject, Strong both against the deed: then, as his host, Who should against his murderer shut the door, Not bear the knife myself. Besides, this Duncan Hath borne his faculties so meek, hath been So clear in his great office, that his virtues Will plead like angels, trumpet-tongued, against The deep damnation of his taking-off: And pity, like a naked new-born babe, Striding the blast, or heaven's cherubin, hors'd Upon the sightless couriers of the air, Shall blow the horrid deed in every eye, That tears shall drown the wind.βI have no spur To prick the sides of my intent, but only Vaulting ambition, which o'erleaps itself, And falls on the other -"
Quote Details
Added by wikiquote-import-bot
Unverified quote
0 likes
Original Language: English
Available Languages (1)
Sources
Macbeth, Scene VII
https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Macbeth
Revision History
No revisions have been submitted for this quote.
Categories
Macbeth
110 quotes on TrueQuotesView all quotes by Macbeth β
Related Quotes
"Fair is foul, and foul is fair; Hover through the fog and filthy air."
"The merciless Macdonwald (Worthy to be a rebel, β for, to that, The multiplying villainies of nature Do swarm upon hiβ¦"
"A sailor's wife had chestnuts in her lap, And munched, and munched, and munched: Give me, quoth I: Aroint thee, witchβ¦"
"Sleep shall neither night nor day Hang upon his pent-house lid."
"So foul and fair a day I have not seen."
"First Witch: All hail, Macbeth! hail to thee, Thane of Glamis! Second Witch: All hail, Macbeth! hail to thee, Thane oβ¦"
"If you can look into the seeds of time, And say which grain will grow, and which will not, Speak."
"The earth hath bubbles, as water has, And these are of them."
"Or have we eaten on the insane root That takes the reason prisoner?"
"First Witch: When shall we three meet again In thunder, lightning, or in rain? Second Witch: When the hurly-burly's dβ¦"