…and I fear thou play’dst most folly for it. | (Banquo soliloquy) Banquo admits he has suspicious Macbeth was the murderer of Duncan. |
It is concluded. Banquo, thy soul’s flight, if it find heaven, must find it out tonight. | (Macbeth soliloquy) Macbeth has successfully arranged Banquo’s death. |
Things without all remedy should be without regard; what’s done is done. | (Lady Macbeth to Macbeth) She wants him to be happy and move on because there is no way to change what has happened. |
Things bad begun make themselves strong by ill. | (Macbeth to Lady Macbeth) The only way to make this right is by continuing to attack. |
Thou canst not say that I did it; never shake thy gory locks at me. | (Macbeth to Ghost of Banquo) Macbeth claims that his use of the murderers makes him not guilty. He tells the ghost to leave. |
Do not muse at me, my most worthy friends, I have a strange infirmity which is nothing to those that know me. | (Macbeth to lords) Macbeth adopts Lady Macbeth’s idea that the reason for his strange outbursts is a disease. |
I am in blood stepped so far that, should I wade no more, returning were so tedious as go o’er. | (Macbeth to Lady Macbeth) He is in too deep. Just as much effort is required to fight than to surrender. |
We are but young indeed. | (Macbeth to Lady Macbeth) Macbeth tells Lady Macbeth that they are just beginners in crime/sin and must continue. |
Some holy angel fly to the court of England and unfold his message ere he come. | (Lennox to lord) Macduff has gone to England to get troops for overthrowing Macbeth. |
You lack the season of all natures, sleep. | (Lady Macbeth to Macbeth) Because of your use of violence you are not able to sleep. |
There’s husbandry in heaven; their candles are all out. | (Banquo to Fleance) This time is very dark and something bad is going to happen. |
Is this a dagger I see before me, the handle toward my hand? | (Macbeth soliloquy) Sees a hallucination of dagger, but grabs it and goes to kill Duncan. |
Has he not resembled my father as he slept, I had done it. | (Lady Macbeth to Macbeth) This is why Lady Macbeth couldn’t kill Duncan herself. First time we see her “soft side.” |
Glamis hath murdered sleep, and therefore Cawdor shall sleep no more. Macbeth shall sleep no more. | (Macbeth to Lady Macbeth) Macbeth won’t be able to sleep anymore because of what he has done. |
I’ll go no more; I am afraid to think what I have done; Look on’t again I dare not. | (Macbeth to Lady Macbeth) Lady Macbeth asked Macbeth to go wipe blood onto the grooms. He can’t bring himself to terms to what he just did. |
Will all great Neptune’s ocean wash this blood clean from my hand. | (Macbeth to Lady Macbeth) Macbeth feels like nothing in the world could ever rid him of the guilt of killing Duncan. |
A little water clears us of this deed. How easy it is, then. | (Lady Macbeth to Macbeth) Lady Macbeth finds the guilt easy to get rid of. |
Wake Duncan with thy knocking; I would though couldst. | (Macbeth to knocking at the door) Macbeth expresses guilt for this action and regrets killing Duncan. |
Had I but died an hour before this chance, I had lived a blessed time. | (Macbeth to Lennox, Donalbain, Lady Macbeth, Macduff, Ross, and Banquo) He wants others to think he is innocent. |
From this instant there’s nothing serious in morality. | (Macbeth to Lennox, Donalbain, Lady Macbeth, Macduff, Ross, and Banquo) No longer wants to live because Duncan is dead. |
To show an unfelt sorry is an office which the false man does easy. | (Malcolm to Donalbain) Malcolm doesn’t trust the other men and suspects their pity is just a show. |
There’s daggers in men’s smiles; the near blood, the nearer bloody. | (Donalbain to Malcolm) Donalbain says the closer they are, the more horrible foes they can become. |
To know my deed, ’twere best not know myself. | (Macbeth to Lady Macbeth) Macbeth says he would rather not know about his crime yet it is a part of him. |
My hands are of your colour; but I shame to wear a heart so white. | (Lady Macbeth to Macbeth) Lady Macbeth says that she has finished the plan but is not ashamed or afraid like her husband. |
Hear it not, Duncan; for it is a knell that summons thee to heaven or to hell. | (Macbeth to self/bell ringing) Macbeth does not want Duncan to hear the bell and wake up for he is about to kill him. |
I dreamt last night of the three weird sisters: To you they have show’d some truth. | (Banquo to Macbeth) Banquo admits he thinks of the Witches and their words since they rightly predicted Macbeth’s new title. |
(Witches to general audience) No real rules; anything goes | Fair is foul and foul is fair. |
(Duncan to Ross) The Thane of Cawdor was a traitor to Scotland and will be killed for it, where his land will be given to Macbeth. | No more that Thane of Cawdor shall deceive our bosom interest. Go pronounce his present death. |
(Witch 1 to the other witches) The witches can torture and play with fate, but they cannot kill people. | Though his bark cannot be lost, yet it can be tempest tossed. |
(Macbeth to Banquo) Echos the first words said by the witches. It is a fair day because they have one, but it is a foul day due to weather and all the deaths. It is more doublespeak. | So fair and foul a day I have not seen. |
(Witches to Macbeth) After Macbeth is thane of both Glamis and Cawdor, he will end up king of Scotland. | All hail Macbeth, that shall be king hereafter! |
(Banquo to Witches) Banquo wants his fortune told too. He has disdain for the witches but wants to know. He is a good foil for Macbeth. When Macbeth gets a good prediction, he becomes ruthless. Banquo stays loyal and dies. | If you can look into the seeds of time, and say which grain will grow and which will not, speak then to me. |
(Witches to Banquo) His sons may be kings, but he will not be one. | Thou shalt get Kings, though thou be none. |
(Banquo to Macbeth) Banquo is developing suspicion of the witches’ fortunes and thinks perhaps they should not be heeded. The witches are classified as dark beings, not just supernatural ones. | But ’tis strange; and oftentimes, to win us to our harm, the instruments of darkness tell us truths, win us with honest trifles, to betray us in deepest consequence. |
(Malcolm to Duncan) Talking about traitorous Thane of Cawdor. The best thing he ever did was die repenting and not putting up a fight. | Nothing in his life became like him leaving it. |
(Duncan to Malcolm) It is impossible to tell a person’s true thoughts. There is no way to tell if somebody is merely a good actor. This is ironic since the Thane of Cawdor and Macbeth both managed to fool Duncan. | There’s no art to find the mind’s construction in the face. |
(Duncan to Macbeth) Duncan claims credit for Macbeth’s success and wants to make sure he stays successful. | I have begun to plant thee, and will labor to make thee full of growing. |
(Macbeth to stars) Macbeth, despite Duncan’s kindness, wants to murder his way to the throne. | Stars, hide your fires: Let not lights see my black and deep desires. |
(Lady Macbeth soliloquy) She thinks Macbeth is too kind to be king. He doesn’t have the killer instinct to get to the top. | Yet I do fear thy nature; It is too full of the milk of human kindness. |
(Lady Macbeth soliloquy) Asks the spirits to dehumanize or dewomanize her. She wants to be free of any sympathy or weakness. | Come you spirits that tend on mortal thoughts, unsex me here. |
(Lady Macbeth to Macbeth) Lady Macbeth tells Macbeth how he should make sure his face should not be readable when he goes through with the murder. | Your face…is as a book where men may read strange matters. |
(Lady Macbeth to Macbeth) Lady Macbeth tells Macbeth to look innocent but strike quickly like a serpent. | Look like the innocent flower but be the serpent under it. |
(Macbeth soliloquy) He has no reason to hate or kill Duncan except his own ambitions; Duncan is a good king and cousin | I have no spur to prick the sides of my intent, but only vaulting ambition. |
(Lady Macbeth to Macbeth) Encourages Macbeth one more time to kill Duncan. This also refers to a lute(a guitar like instrument). She is also, in a way, saying she is playing Macbeth. | But screw your courage to the sticking place, and we will not fail. |
(Macbeth to Lady Macbeth) Macbeth admits his heart has failed and now he will go because of the guilt that will follow. | False face must hide what false heart doth know. |
Good vs Evil Macbeth quotes
July 15, 2019