| “Something is rotten in the state of Denmark” | Marcellus’ statement at the beginning of the play to the corruption in Denmark |
| “Leperous distilment” | The poison Claudius pours into Old Hamlet’s ear |
| “This physic but prolongs thy sickly days” | Hamlet characterises Claudius’ corrupt mind/immorality as a type of sickness |
| “Madness in great ones must not unwatched go” | Claudius realises this, and sends Hamlet to England to be killed without question |
| “Smiling damned villain” | Hamlet describes Claudius as this |
| “To thine own self be true” | Polonius’ ironic statement, as he is two faced |
| “What falsities you will” | Polonius instructs Reynaldo to spy on his son Laertes and put on: |
| “Seems madam? Nay it is: I know not seems” | Hamlet says this to Gertrude implying his grief is genuine and hers is not |
| “A little more than kin and less than kind” | It is clear Hamlet does not want to be associated with his uncle when he says: |
| “So excellent a king that was to this Hyperion a satyr” | Hamlet compares Claudius unfavourably to Old Hamlet |
| “To put an antic disposition on” | Hamlet resorts to pretend to be mad and: |
| “The serpent that did sting thy father’s life now wears the crown” | The Ghost informs Hamlet that: |
| “The play’s the thing wherein I’ll catch the conscience of the king” | Hamlet tries to deceive Claudius by re-enacting the mousetrap |
| “I loved you not” | Hamlet lies to Ophelia saying he never loved her |
| “Tis an unweeded garden that grows to seed” | In his opening soliloquy Hamlet compares the world to a neglected garden |
Hamlet Quotes – Corruption
July 27, 2019