Category: The Merchant of Venice

But mercy is above this sceptered sway;
It is enthroned in the hearts of kings,
It is an attribute of God himself.

If every ducat in six thousand ducats
Were in six parts, and every part a ducat
I would not draw them. I would have my bond.

The Devil can cite scripture to suit his purpose.

You know me well, and herein spend but time
To wind about my love with circumstance
And out of doubt you do me now more wrong.

Young in limbs, in judgement old.

In Belmont is a lady richly left
And she is fair.

All that glisters is not gold;
Often have you heard that told;
Many a man his life hath sold
But my outside to behold.

If you repay not on such a day
let the forfeit be an equal pound
of your fair flesh.

Ornament is but the guiled shore to a most dangerous sea.

That’s certain. I for my part knew the tailor
That made the wings she flew withal.

There is no vice so simple but assumes some mark of virtue on his outward parts.

Try what my credit can in Venice do
To furnish you to Belmont, and fair Portia.

So the may the outward shows be least themselves;
The world is still deceived with ornament.

The quality of mercy is not strained.

Let me play the fool!

Bassanio: Promise me life, and I’ll confess the truth.
Portia: Confess and live-
Bassanio: -Confess and love.

The villany you teach me I will execute, and it shall go hard, but I will better the instruction.

If you prick us, do we not bleed? If you tickle us, do we not laugh? If you poison us, do we not die? And if you wrong us, shall we not revenge?

I’ll not be made a soft and dull eyed fool!

The pound of flesh that I demand of him
Is dearly bought.

Thus hath the candle singed the moth.

And I beseech you,
Wrest once the law to your authority,
To do a great right, do a little wrong,
And curb this cruel devil of his will.