| “If music be the food of love, play on.” (1.1.1) | This quote is spoken by Orsino. He is referring to his love for Olivia. This quote tells us that he is passionate about Olivia, and won’t give up easily on her. |
| “I am sure care’s an enemy to life.” (1.3.2-3) | This quote is from Sir Toby commenting on his niece Olivia’s foolishness for mourning over her brother for so long. |
| “I have them at my fingers’ ends.” (1.3.78) | Maria says this to Sir Andrew while holding his hand, referring to him as a joke. Maria recognizes Sir Andrew as an idiot and unworthy of Olivia as a suitor. |
| “I am a great eater of beef, and I believe that does harm to my wit.” (1.3.84-86) | This quote is from Sir Andrew witlessly explaining to Sir Toby why he is slow to pick up on Maria’s jokes and insults. |
| “Whoe’er I woo, myself would be his wife.” (1.4.42) | Viola is referring to her dilemma, in which she loves Orsino, but Olivia is in love with her Cesario disguise. |
| “Many a good hanging prevents a bad marriage.” (1.5.19) | The clown Feste says this in response to Maria’s threat of hanging him. This shows that Feste is doing a good job as a clown for acting careless and being unable to take anything seriously. |
| “Is there no respect of place, persons, nor time in you?” (2.3.91-92) | Malvolio says this to Sir Toby and his entourage of party-goers, indicating that Malvolio is intolerant to people who break rules and order. |
| “Love sought is good, but giv’n unsought is better.” (3.1.156) | Olivia says this about Cesario denying her advances, explaining that having someone confessing to you is better than confessing to someone. This quote is ironic because she herself has been rejecting Orsino’s love confessions. |
Twelfth Night Midterm Quotes
July 4, 2019