Europe

Explore 4622 quotes by people from Europe

Great blunders are often made, like large ropes, of a multitude of fibers.

Victor Hugo

Les Miserables

Buy Les Miserables at Amazon Buy Les Miserables at Amazon
Read Les Miserables at Project Gutenberg

More information about this quote

Topic

Mistakes

Author

Victor Hugo

Source

Les Miserables

Medium

Novel

Language

French

Time

1862 1860s 19th century

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Hugo, Victor. Les Misérables. Vol. 2, Bruxelles: A. Lacroix, Verboeckhoven & Cie, 1862, bk. 5, ch. 10.

Current Citation

Hugo, Victor. Les Misérables. Wordsworth Editions, 1994, pt. 2, bk. 5, ch. 10.

If it be true that any beautiful thing raises the pure and just desire of man from earth to God, the eternal fount of all, such I believe my love.

Michelangelo

More information about this quote

Topic

Beauty

Author

Michelangelo

Medium

Poem

Language

Italian

Time

1525 1520s 16th century

Authentication Score 1

Citation

Michelangelo. Madrigals. c. 1525.

The primrose way to th' everlasting bonfire.

William Shakespeare

Macbeth

Buy Macbeth at Amazon Buy Macbeth at Amazon
Read Macbeth at The Folger Shakespeare Library

More information about this quote

Topic

Attraction of sin Temptation

Speaker

Porter

Author

William Shakespeare

Source

Macbeth

Medium

Play

Genre

Tragedy (play)

Language

English

Time

1616 1610s 17th century

Era

European Renaissance

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Shakespeare, William. "Macbeth." Mr. William Shakespeare's Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies. London: Edward Blount and William and Isaac Jaggard, 1623, act 2, sc. 3.

Current Citation

Shakespeare, William. "Macbeth." The Norton Shakespeare, edited by Stephen Greenblatt, et al., 3rd ed., W. W. Norton & Company, 2015, act 2, sc. 3.

They surfeited with honey and began
To loathe the taste of sweetness, whereof a little
More than a little is by much too much.

William Shakespeare

Henry IV, Part 1

Buy Henry IV, Part 1 at Amazon Buy Henry IV, Part 1 at Amazon
Read Henry IV, Part 1 at The Folger Shakespeare Library

More information about this quote

Topic

Excess

Speaker

King Henry the Fourth

Author

William Shakespeare

Source

Henry IV, Part 1

Medium

Play

Genre

History (play)

Language

English

Time

1597 1590s 16th century

Era

European Renaissance

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Shakespeare, William. Henry IV, Part 1. The Lord Chamberlain's Men, c. 1597, The Theatre, London, England, UK, act 3, sc. 2.

Current Citation

Shakespeare, William. "The First Part of Henry the Fourth." The Norton Shakespeare, edited by Stephen Greenblatt, et al., 3rd ed., W. W. Norton & Company, 2015, act 3, sc. 2.

Sleep that knits up the raveled sleave of care,
The death of each day’s life, sore labor’s bath,
Balm of hurt minds, great nature’s second course,
Chief nourisher in life’s feast.

William Shakespeare

Macbeth

Buy Macbeth at Amazon Buy Macbeth at Amazon
Read Macbeth at The Folger Shakespeare Library

More information about this quote

Topic

Sleep

Speaker

Macbeth

Author

William Shakespeare

Source

Macbeth

Medium

Play

Genre

Tragedy (play)

Language

English

Time

1616 1610s 17th century

Era

European Renaissance

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Shakespeare, William. "Macbeth." Mr. William Shakespeare's Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies. London: Edward Blount and William and Isaac Jaggard, 1623, act 2, sc. 2.

Current Citation

Shakespeare, William. "Macbeth." The Norton Shakespeare, edited by Stephen Greenblatt, et al., 3rd ed., W. W. Norton & Company, 2015, act 2, sc. 2.

What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death?

Apostle Paul

Romans 7:24

Buy the Bible (NIV) at Amazon Buy the Bible (NIV) at Amazon
Read this verse at Bible Hub

More information about this quote

Topic

The human condition Salvation Death

Author

Apostle Paul

Source

Romans The Bible

Medium

Scripture

Genre

Religious literature

Statement Type

Question

Language

Greek

Time

56 50s 1st century

Era

Classical antiquity

Authentication Score 3

Citation

The Holy Bible, New International Version. International Bible Society, 1978. (Romans 7:24).

We few, we happy few, we band of brothers;
For he today that sheds his blood with me
Shall be my brother.

William Shakespeare

Henry V

Buy Henry V at Amazon Buy Henry V at Amazon
Read Henry V at The Folger Shakespeare Library

More information about this quote

Topic

Brothers in war Brotherhood

Speaker

King Henry V

Author

William Shakespeare

Source

Henry V

Medium

Play

Genre

History (play)

Language

English

Time

1599 1590s 16th century

Era

European Renaissance

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Shakespeare, William. Henry V. The Lord Chamberlain's Men, c. 1599, The Curtain, Shoreditch, London, England, UK, act 4, sc. 3.

Current Citation

Shakespeare, William. "Henry the Fifth." The Norton Shakespeare, edited by Stephen Greenblatt, et al., 3rd ed., W. W. Norton & Company, 2015, act 4, sc. 3.

The undiscovered country from whose bourn
No traveler returns, puzzles the will
And makes us rather bear those ills we have
Than fly to others that we know not of?

William Shakespeare

Hamlet

Buy Hamlet at Amazon Buy Hamlet at Amazon
Read Hamlet at The Folger Shakespeare Library

More information about this quote

Topic

Mystery of death Death The afterlife

Speaker

Hamlet

Author

William Shakespeare

Source

Hamlet

Medium

Play

Genre

Tragedy (play)

Language

English

Time

1616 1610s 17th century

Era

European Renaissance

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Shakespeare, William. "Hamlet." Mr. William Shakespeare's Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies. London: Edward Blount and William and Isaac Jaggard, 1623, act 3, sc. 1.

Current Citation

Shakespeare, William. "Hamlet." The Norton Shakespeare, edited by Stephen Greenblatt, et al., 3rd ed., W. W. Norton & Company, 2015, act 3, sc. 1.

Many have imagined republics and principalities which have never been seen or known to exist in reality; for how we live is so far removed from how we ought to live; that he who neglects what is done for what ought to be done, will rather bring about his own ruin that his preservation.

Niccolo Machiavelli

The Prince

Buy The Prince at Amazon Buy The Prince at Amazon
Read The Prince at Project Gutenberg

More information about this quote

Topic

Realism vs. idealism Government Political theory

Author

Niccolo Machiavelli

Source

The Prince

Medium

Treatise

Genre

Political literature Philosophical literature

Language

Italian

Time

1532 1530s 16th century

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Machiavelli, Niccolò. Il Principe [The Prince]. Rome: Antonio Blado d'Asola, 1532.

Current Citation

Machiavelli, Nicolò. The Prince, translated by Peter Bondanella. Oxford University Press, 2005.

Sleep, that sometimes shuts up sorrow's eyes,
Steal me awhile from mine own company.

William Shakespeare

A Midsummer Night's Dream

Buy A Midsummer Night's Dream at Amazon Buy A Midsummer Night's Dream at Amazon
Read A Midsummer Night's Dream at The Folger Shakespeare Library

More information about this quote

Topic

Sleep as balm Sleep

Speaker

Helena

Author

William Shakespeare

Source

A Midsummer Night's Dream

Medium

Play

Genre

Comedy (play)

Language

English

Time

1599 1590s 16th century

Era

European Renaissance

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Shakespeare, William. A Midsummer Night's Dream. The Lord Chamberlain's Men, c. 1599, The Theatre, London, England, UK, act 3, sc. 2.

Current Citation

Shakespeare, William. "A Midsummer Night's Dream." The Norton Shakespeare, edited by Stephen Greenblatt, et al., 3rd ed., W. W. Norton & Company, 2015, act 3, sc. 2.

For violent fires soon burn out themselves;
Small showers last long, but sudden storms are short.

William Shakespeare

Buy King Richard II at Amazon Buy King Richard II at Amazon
Read Richard II at The Folger Shakespeare Library

More information about this quote

Topic

Intensity

Speaker

John of Gaunt

Author

William Shakespeare

Genre

History (play)

Statement Type

Metaphor, analogy and simile

Language

English

Time

1595 1590s 16th century

Era

European Renaissance

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Shakespeare, William. Richard II. 9 Dec. 1595, The house of Edward Hoby, Westminster, London, England, UK, act 2, sc. 1.

Current Citation

Shakespeare, William. "Richard the Second." The Norton Shakespeare, edited by Stephen Greenblatt, et al., 3rd ed., W. W. Norton & Company, 2015, act 2, sc. 1.

Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.

Apostle Paul

1st Corinthians 10:31

Buy the Bible (KJV) at Amazon Buy the Bible (KJV) at Amazon
Read this verse at Bible Hub

More information about this quote

Topic

Living for God

Author

Apostle Paul

Source

1st Corinthians The Bible

Medium

Scripture

Genre

Religious literature

Statement Type

Orders and commands

Language

Greek

Time

55 50s 1st century

Era

Classical antiquity

Authentication Score 3

Citation

The Holy Bible: The King James Version. 1611. (1st Corinthians 10:31).

He who would teach men to die would teach them to live.

Michel de Montaigne

Essays

Buy the Essays at Amazon Buy the Essays at Amazon
Read the Essays at Project Gutenberg

More information about this quote

Topic

Life and death

Author

Michel de Montaigne

Source

That to Study Philosophy is to Learn to Die Essays

Medium

Essay

Language

French

Time

1580 1580s 16th century

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

De Montaigne, Michel. "Que Philosopher C'Est Apprendre a Mourir [That to Study Philosophy is to Learn to Die]." Essais [Essays]. Paris: Simon Millanges and Jean Richer, 1580.

Current Citation

De Montaigne, Michel. "To Philosophize is to Learn How to Die." The Complete Essays, edited and translated by M. A. Screech. Penguin Classics, 1993.

How can a rational being be ennobled by any thing that is not obtained by its own exertions?

Mary Wollstonecraft

A Vindication of the Rights of Woman

Buy A Vindication of the Rights of Woman at Amazon Buy A Vindication of the Rights of Woman at Amazon
Read A Vindication of the Rights of Woman at Project Gutenberg

More information about this quote

Topic

Hard work

Author

Mary Wollstonecraft

Source

A Vindication of the Rights of Woman

Genre

Political literature Feminist literature

Language

English

Time

1792 1790s 18th century

Authentication Score 3

Original Citation

Wollstonecraft, Mary. A Vindication of the Rights of Woman: with Strictures on Political and Moral Subjects. Boston: Thomas and Andrews/London: J. Johnson, 1792, ch. 3.

Current Citation

Wollstonecraft, Mary. "A Vindication of the Rights of Women." A Vindication of the Rights of Women and A Vindication of the Rights of Men, edited by Janet Todd. Oxford University Press, 2009, ch. 3.

Nothing really matters,
Anyone can see,
Nothing really matters, nothing really matters to me.

Queen

Bohemian Rhapsody

More information about this quote

Topic

Nihilism

Speaker

Queen

Source

Bohemian Rhapsody A Night at the Opera

Medium

Song

Genre

Rock music

Language

English

Time

1975 1970s 20th century

Authentication Score 3

Citation

Mercury, Freddie. "Bohemian Rhapsody." Performed by Queen. A Night at the Opera. EMI Records, 1975.

I am sure care's an enemy to life.

William Shakespeare

Twelfth Night, Or What You Will

Buy Twelfth Night at Amazon Buy Twelfth Night at Amazon
Read Twelfth Night at The Folger Shakespeare Library

More information about this quote

Topic

Worry Stress

Speaker

Sir Toby Belch

Author

William Shakespeare

Source

Twelfth Night, Or What You Will

Medium

Play

Genre

Comedy (play) Romantic comedy (play)

Language

English

Time

1602 1600s 17th century

Era

European Renaissance

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Shakespeare, William. Twelfth Night, Or What You Will. 1602, Middle Temple Hall, London, England, UK, act 1, sc. 3.

Current Citation

Shakespeare, William. "Twelfth Night." The Norton Shakespeare, edited by Stephen Greenblatt, et al., 3rd ed., W. W. Norton & Company, 2015, act 1, sc. 3.

Though thou speakest truth,
Methinks thou speak'st not well.

William Shakespeare

Coriolanus

Buy Coriolanus at Amazon Buy Coriolanus at Amazon
Read Coriolanus at The Folger Shakespeare Library

More information about this quote

Topic

Telling the truth Truth Eloquence

Speaker

Cominius

Author

William Shakespeare

Source

Coriolanus

Medium

Play

Genre

Tragedy (play)

Language

English

Time

1616 1610s 17th century

Era

European Renaissance

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Shakespeare, William. "Coriolanus." Mr. William Shakespeare's Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies. London: Edward Blount and William and Isaac Jaggard, 1623, act 1, sc. 6

Current Citation

Shakespeare, William. "Coriolanus." The Norton Shakespeare, edited by Stephen Greenblatt, et al., 3rd ed., W. W. Norton & Company, 2015, act 1, sc. 2.

For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.

Apostle Paul

Romans 8:18

Buy the Bible (KJV) at Amazon Buy the Bible (KJV) at Amazon
Read this verse at Bible Hub

More information about this quote

Topic

The afterlife

Author

Apostle Paul

Source

Romans The Bible

Medium

Scripture

Genre

Religious literature

Language

Greek

Time

56 50s 1st century

Era

Classical antiquity

Authentication Score 3

Citation

The Holy Bible: The King James Version. 1611. (Romans 8:18).

When in disgrace with fortune and men's eyes...
Haply I think on thee, and then my state,
Like to the lark at break of day arising
From sullen earth, sings hymns at heaven's gate;
For thy sweet love remembered such wealth brings
That then I scorn to change my state with kings.

William Shakespeare

Shakespeare's Sonnets

Buy Shakespeare's Sonnets at Amazon Buy Shakespeare's Sonnets at Amazon
Read the Sonnets at The Folger Shakespeare Library

More information about this quote

Topic

Love

Author

William Shakespeare

Source

Sonnet 29 Shakespeare's Sonnets

Medium

Sonnet Poem

Statement Type

Profession of love

Language

English

Time

1609 1600s 17th century

Era

European Renaissance

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Shakespeare, William. Shake-speares Sonnets. London: Thomas Thorpe, 1609, sonnet 29, I. 1.

Current Citation

Shakespeare, William. "The Sonnets." The Norton Shakespeare, edited by Stephen Greenblatt, et al., 3rd ed., W. W. Norton & Company, 2015, sonnet 29.

Yet the first bringer of unwelcome news
Hath but a losing office, and his tongue
Sounds ever after as a sullen bell
Remembered tolling a departing friend.

William Shakespeare

Henry IV, Part 2

Buy Henry IV, Part 2 at Amazon Buy Henry IV, Part 2 at Amazon
Read Henry IV, Part 2 at The Folger Shakespeare Library

More information about this quote

Topic

Bearer of bad news Bad news

Speaker

Northumberland

Author

William Shakespeare

Source

Henry IV, Part 2

Medium

Play

Genre

History (play)

Language

English

Time

1597 1590s 16th century

Era

European Renaissance

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Shakespeare, William. Henry IV, Part 2. The Lord Chamberlain's Men, c. 1597, The Theatre, London, England, UK, act 1, sc. 1.

Current Citation

Shakespeare, William. "The Second Part of Henry the Fourth." The Norton Shakespeare, edited by Stephen Greenblatt, et al., 3rd ed., W. W. Norton & Company, 2015, act 1, sc. 1.