English literature is a vast and rich tapestry that has woven together countless stories, emotions, and ideas over the centuries. From the sonnets of Shakespeare to the novels of the Brontë sisters, and from the epic poems of Milton to the modern masterpieces of contemporary authors, it has given us a wealth of words that resonate deeply within our hearts and minds. These quotes from English literature are like precious jewels, each carrying its own unique luster and significance. They can transport us to different worlds, make us feel a plethora of emotions, and offer profound insights into the human condition. Whether it’s love, loss, hope, or the complexities of life that we seek to understand, the following 45 quotes from the realm of English literature are bound to captivate and inspire us on our own literary and life journeys.
1. “Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day? Thou art more lovely and more temperate.” – William Shakespeare
2. “To be, or not to be, that is the question.” – William Shakespeare
3. “All the world’s a stage, and all the men and women merely players.” – William Shakespeare
4. “It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a wife.” – Jane Austen
5. “My heart is, and always will be, yours.” – Jane Austen
6. “I wandered lonely as a cloud that floats on high o’er vales and hills.” – William Wordsworth
7. “The child is father of the man.” – William Wordsworth
8. “O, Captain! My Captain! Our fearful trip is done.” – Walt Whitman
9. “Do I contradict myself? Very well then I contradict myself, (I am large, I contain multitudes).” – Walt Whitman
10. “Beauty is truth, truth beauty,—that is all Ye know on earth, and all ye need to know.” – John Keats
11. “A thing of beauty is a joy for ever.” – John Keats
12. “I am no bird; and no net ensnares me: I am a free human being with an independent will.” – Charlotte Brontë
13. “Reader, I married him.” – Charlotte Brontë
14. “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.” – Charles Dickens
15. “Please, sir, I want some more.” – Charles Dickens
16. “Great Expectations.” – Charles Dickens
17. “There is no friend as loyal as a book.” – Ernest Hemingway
18. “Hills Like White Elephants.” – Ernest Hemingway
19. “The sun also rises.” – Ernest Hemingway
20. “To die will be an awfully big adventure.” – J.M. Barrie
21. “All children, except one, grow up.” – J.M. Barrie
22. “The past is a foreign country: they do things differently there.” – L.P. Hartley
23. “The love song of J. Alfred Prufrock.” – T.S. Eliot
24. “April is the cruelest month, breeding lilacs out of the dead land.” – T.S. Eliot
25. “I have measured out my life with coffee spoons.” – T.S. Eliot
26. “Lord of the Flies.” – William Golding
27. “The Lord of the Rings.” – J.R.R. Tolkien
28. “In a hole in the ground there lived a hobbit.” – J.R.R. Tolkien
29. “The road goes ever on and on.” – J.R.R. Tolkien
30. “It’s not about the happy ending, it’s about the story.” – J.K. Rowling
31. “Hogwarts will always be there to welcome you home.” – J.K. Rowling
32. “The only people for me are the mad ones, the ones who are mad to live, mad to talk, mad to be saved.” – Jack Kerouac
33. “On the Road.” – Jack Kerouac
34. “A good book is the best of friends, the same today and forever.” – Martin Tupper
35. “Call me Ishmael.” – Herman Melville
36. “Moby Dick.” – Herman Melville
37. “Whosoever holds this hammer, if he be worthy, shall possess the power of Thor.” – Stan Lee (inspired by Norse mythology but a significant part of English-language comics literature)
38. “With great power comes great responsibility.” – Stan Lee (similarly, a staple in English-language pop culture influenced by literature)
39. “The Canterbury Tales.” – Geoffrey Chaucer
40. “The Miller’s Tale.” – Geoffrey Chaucer
41. “I’ll put a girdle round about the earth in forty minutes.” – William Shakespeare
42. “Double, double toil and trouble; Fire burn, and cauldron bubble.” – William Shakespeare
43. “Out, damned spot! Out, I say!” – William Shakespeare
44. “The quality of mercy is not strained.” – William Shakespeare
45. “Love looks not with the eyes, but with the mind.” – William Shakespeare
Conclusion
These forty-five quotes from English literature are a testament to the power and allure of the written word. They have endured through time, captivating generations with their beauty, wisdom, and ability to capture the essence of the human experience. Whether we’re delving into the pages of a classic novel, reciting a poem aloud, or simply reflecting on these lines in our quiet moments, they have the potential to stir our emotions, expand our perspectives, and make us feel a part of something larger than ourselves. English literature, through these quotes, continues to be a source of inspiration, a gateway to other worlds, and a mirror that reflects our own lives back to us. Let us cherish these words, carry them with us, and allow them to color our understanding of the world and our place in it as we continue our own literary explorations and life adventures.
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