| In sooth, I know not why I am so sad | Antonio, opening to the play |
| My ventures are not in one bottom trusted, nor to one place | Antonio, assuring his fortune is safe |
| I hold the world but as the world, Gratiano; a stage where every man must play a part, and mine a sad one | Antonio, saying his life is sad |
| I have disabled mine estate, by something showing a more swelling port than my faint means would grant continuance | Bassanio, saying he has spent all of his money |
| I owe the most, in money and in love | Bassanio, saying he owes Antonio for his money and his kindness |
| My purse, my person, my extremist means, lie all unlocked to your occasions | Antonio, saying all he has is Bassanio’s |
| In Belmont is a lady richly left, and she is fair, and, fairer than that word of wondrous virtues | Bassanio, describing Portia |
| Try what my credit can in Venice do | Antonio, telling Bassanio to borrow money in Venice |
| I cannot choose one nor refuse none | Portia, saying she has no choice in who she marries |
| I had rather be married to a death’s-head with a bone in his mouth than to either of these | Portia, saying she would rather marry a skull than her suitors |
| I will do anything, Narissa, ere I’ll be married to a sponge | Portia, fearful that she’ll marry a drunkard, shows her sense of humor |
| If I live to be as old as Sibylla, I will die as chaste as Diana, unless I be obtained by the manner of my father’s will | Portia, saying that she’ll never marry unless she agrees to her father’s wishes |
| I hate him for he is a Christian, but more for that in low simplicity he lends out money gratis and brings down the rate of usance here with us in Venice | Shylock, gives the reason why he hates Antonio, he stops him gaining profit |
| Let the forfeit be nominated for an equal pound of your fair flesh | Shylock, description of the forfeit if the money isn’t paid |
| You shall not seal such a bond for me, I’ll rather dwell in my necessity | Bassanio, asks Antonio not to agree to Shylock’s bond |
| Though I am a daughter to his blood, I am not to his manners | Jessica, says she doesn’t agree with Shylock’s way |
| Who chooseth me shall gain what many men desire | Gold Casket |
| Who chooseth me shall get as much as he deserves | Silver Casket |
| Who chooseth me must give and hazard all he hath | Lead Casket |
| All the boys in Venice follow him, crying, his stones, his daughter , and his ducats | Salerio, mocking Shylock |
| A kinder gentleman treads not the earth | Salerio, praising Antonio |
| His eye being big with tears, turning his face, he put his hand behind him, and with affection wondrous sensible he wrung Bassanio’s hand and so they parted | Salerio, describing Antonio and Bassanio’s parting, shows their relationship |
| If you prick us, do we not bleed? If you tickle us, do we not laugh? If you poison us, do we not die? And if you wrong us, shall we not revenge? | Shylock, talking about revenge |
| I had it of Leah when I was a bachelor, I would not have given it for a wilderness of monkeys | Shylock, talking about his late wife, shows his soft side |
| I have engaged myself to a dear friend, engaged my friend to his mere enemy, to feed my means | Bassanio, admits he has borrowed money from Antonio |
| The dearest friend to me, the kindest man, the best conditioned and unwearied spirit in doing courtesies | Bassanio, tells Portia about Antonio |
| Thou art come to answer a stony adversary, an inhuman wretch uncapable of pity | Duke, consoles Antonio for his circumstances |
| I do oppose my patience to his fury, and am armed to suffer, with a quietness of spirit | Antonio, patiently waits for the verdict silently |
| So can I give no reason, nor I will not, more than a lodged hate and a certain loathing I bear Antonio | Shylock, he has no reason behind his demands other than a hatred of Antonio |
| Is dearly bought, ’tis mine and I will have it | Shylock, believes he has full right to Antonio’s flesh |
| The jew shall have my flesh, blood, bones and all | Bassanio, would rather die in Antonio’s place |
| The quality of mercy is not strained, it droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven upon the place beneath, it is twice blest, it blesseth him that gives and him that takes | Portia, simile describing mercy |
| I am armed and well prepared. Give your hand Bassanio, fare you well, grieve not that I am fallen to this for you | Antonio, tells Bassanio not to feel guilt after his death |
| I would lose all, ay, sacrifice them all here to this devil, to deliver you | Bassanio, saying he would give anything, even Portia, to save Antonio |
| In cutting it, if thou dost shed one drop of Christian blood, thy lands and goods are, by the laws of Venice, confiscate unto the state of Venice | Portia, finds the flaw in Shylock’s bond and he will lose everything if blood is spilt |
The Merchant of Venice : Important Quotes
July 1, 2019