| “Fair is foul and foul is fair.” | I.i.10Speaker: Three Witches Meaning: The witches idea of fair is seen as foul, and their idea of foul is seen as fair. This is basically shown throughout the play. Many play foul. Appearances can be deceiving. |
| “Yet do I fear they nature; it is too full o’ the milk of human kindness” | I.v.15-16 Speaker: Lady Macbeth Meaning: Macbeth is too nice to accomplish what he must. |
| “Look like the innocent flower, but be the serpent under’t.” | I.v.64-65Speaker: Lady Macbeth Meaning: Someone is acting like your friend, but will strike you in the back. (Macbeth with the king) |
| “There’s daggers in men’s smiles.” | II.iii.140Speaker: Donalbain Meaning: These men are putting up a pretense of being their friends, but really they would back stab.” |
| “Nought’s had, all’s spent, Where our desire is got without consent. ‘Tis safer to be that which we destroy, Than, by destruction, dwell in doubtful joy.” | III.ii.4-7 Speaker: Lady MacbethMeaning: They got what they wanted, but they are not happy. They’re guilty. |
| “What’s done is done.” | III.ii.12 Speaker: Lady Macbeth Meaning: They can’t change what they have done. Move on from it. |
| “Out, damned spot! Out, I say.” | V.i.34 Speaker: Lady MacbethMeaning: She is try to wash Banquo’s blood from her hands in her sleepwalking. She feels so guilty, and the guilt won’t leave.” |
| “Out, out, brief candle! Life’s but a walking shadow, a poor player that struts and frets his hour upon the stage and this is heard no more; it is a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing..” | V.v.23-28 Speaker: MacbethMeaning: Lady Macbeth had just died. Macbeth is telling of the truth of life. Life is there, then it is gone. |
| “I bear a charmed life.” | V.vii.12 Speaker: MacbethMeaning: Macbeth is speaking of the Apparitions’ prophecies. He believes he is protected and cannot be killed by Macduff. |
| “and you all know, security Is mortals’ chiefest enemy.” | III.iv.32-33 Speaker: HecateMeaning: Hecate is saying that overconfidence is man’s downfall. This will be Macbeth’s downfall, because he believes no one will take his kingship from him. |
Macbeth Quotes
November 30, 2019