Famous quotes from King Lear

Shakespeare’s tragedy King Lear  explores power, loyalty, and betrayal though some of Shakespeare’s most memorable language. Below are some of the most well-known lines, in order of their appearance in the play.

Sir, I love you more than word can wield the matter,
Dearer than eyesight, space, and liberty,
Beyond what can be valued, rich or rare,
No less than life, with grace, health, beauty, honor;
As much as child e’er loved, or father found;
A love that makes breath poor, and speech unable.
Beyond all manner of so much I love you.
—Lear, Act 1, scene 1 

Nothing will come of nothing.
—Lear, Act 1, scene 1

Yet he hath ever but slenderly known himself.
—Regan, Act 1, scene 1

Now, gods, stand up for bastards!
—Edmund, Act 1, scene 2

How sharper than a serpent’s tooth it is
To have a thankless child.
—Lear, Act 1, scene 4

Thou shouldst not have been old till thou hadst been wise.
—Fool, Act 1, scene 5

Blow winds, and crack your cheeks! Rage, blow!
—Lear, Act 3, scene 2

I am a man
More sinned against than sinning.
—Lear, Act 3, scene 2

And worse I may be yet. The worst is not
So long as we can say “This is the worst.”
—Edgar, Act 4, scene 1

As flies to wanton boys are we to th’ gods:
They kill us for their sport.
—Gloucester, Act 4, scene 1

’Tis the time’s plague when madmen lead the blind.
—Gloucester, Act 4, scene 1

So distribution should undo excess
And each man have enough.
—Gloucester, Act 4, scene 1

They told me I was everything.
‘Tis a lie. I am not ague-proof.
—Lear, Act 4, scene 6

Ay, every inch a king.
—Lear, Act 4, scene 6

When we are born, we cry that we are come
To this great stage of fools.
—Lear, Act 4, scene 6 

I am bound
Upon a wheel of fire, that mine own tears
Do scald like molten lead.
—Lear, Act 4, scene 7

Men must endure
Their going hence, even as their coming hither.
Ripeness is all. Come on.
—Edgar, Act 5, scene 2

When thou dost ask me blessing, I’ll kneel down
And ask of thee forgiveness.
—Lear, Act 5, scene 3

The wheel is come full circle; I am here.
—Edmund, Act 5, scene 3

Is this the promised end?
—Kent, Act 5, scene 3

Why should a dog, a horse, a rat have life,
And thou no breath at all?
—Lear, Act 5, scene 3

The weight of this sad time we must obey,
Speak what we feel, not what we ought to say.
The oldest hath borne most; we that are young
Shall never see so much nor live so long.
—Edgar, Act 5, scene 3