Twelfth Night Quotes

“Will you stay no longer? nor will you not that I go with you?
Sebastian: By your patience, no. My stars shine darkly over me; the malignancy of my fate might, perhaps, distemper yours; therefore I shall crave of you your leave that I may bear my evils alone. It were a bad recompense for your love to lay any of them on you.”
― William Shakespeare, Twelfth Night

“Many a good hanging prevents a bad marriage.”
― William Shakespeare, Twelfth Night

“Lady, you are the cruel'st she alive
If you will lead these graces to the grave
And leave the world no copy.”
― William Shakespeare, Twelfth Night

“What's a drunken man like, fool?
Feste: Like a drowned man, a fool, and a madman: one draught above heat makes him a fool; the second mads him; and a third drowns him.”
― William Shakespeare, Twelfth Night

“I can hardly forbear hurling things at him.”
― William Shakespeare

“Good madonna, give me leave to
prove you a fool.”
― William Shakespeare, Twelfth Night

“By your patience, no. My stars shine darkly over me; the malignancy of my fate might, perhaps, distemper yours; therefore I shall carve of you your leave that I may bear my evils alone. It were a bad recompense for your love to lay any of them on you.”
― William Shakespeare

“Viola to Duke Orsino: 'I'll do my best
To woo your lady.'
[Aside.] 'Yet, a barful strife! Whoe'er I woo, myself would be his wife.”
― William Shakespeare, Twelfth Night

“Observe him, for the love of mockery”
― Shakespeare

“She is drowned already, sir, with salt water, though I seem to drown her remembrance again with more.”
― William Shakespeare

“Season's Greetings by Stewart Stafford

Season's Greetings
To those we are needing,
While I am leading
The Festive charge.

Christmas love is fleeting,
The snow is sleeting,
And there's every chance of feeling,
A thaw in my cold heart.

Season's Greetings everywhere,
Let War cease and all be fair,
A heart that's full of Christmas cheer,
Bravely faces the New Year.

And so, we feast and celebrate,
For those we've lost, we contemplate,
Christmas is an emotional stocktake,
Of those still here and those that are late.

The year winds down to that last date,
Resolutions tempting fate,
New Fear's Eve, many hate,
And choose to socially-isolate.

Season's Greetings while you can,
To every woman, child, and man,
Season's Greetings, don't you wait
Hold back now, and it's too late.

And in the end, all we do,
Is create memories for the few,
Who mattered while we strode this earth,
Then back to the place before our birth.

Season's Greetings, decorations down,
Bittersweet crunching sounds,
Topple the tree to live again,
Twelfth Night, the inevitable end.

© Stewart Stafford, 2020. All rights reserved.”
― Stewart Stafford

“Where, like Arion on the dolphin's back, I saw him hold acquaintance with the waves so long as I could see.”
― Shakespeare

“Topsy-turvy is the only order of the day—or night, as it happens—on the Eve of the Epiphany. My brother is not far wrong in seeing Twelfth Night as a threat to decency. For women are expected to dress as men, and men, as women. Children hold court at the Children’s Ball, with their parents as toad-eating subjects. Servants are permitted to sauce their masters. Grooms may kiss the Lady of the Manor—provided they present a sprig of mistletoe.”
― Stephanie Barron, Jane and the Twelve Days of Christmas