A Midsummer Night's Dream | Shakespeare's Plays | Discover

The course of true love never did run smooth

– Lysander, Act I, scene 1

Love looks not with the eyes, but with the mind, And therefore is winged Cupid painted blind.

– Helena, Act I, scene 1

the spring, the summer, The childing autumn, angry winter, change Their wonted liveries, and the mazed world, By their increase, now knows not which is which: And this same progeny of evils comes From our debate, from our dissension; We are their parents and original.

– Titania, Act II, scene 1

I know a bank where the wild thyme blows, Where oxlips and the nodding violet grows, Quite over-canopied with luscious woodbine, With sweet musk-roses and with eglantine: There sleeps Titania sometime of the night, Lulled in these flowers with dances and delight.

– Oberon, Act II, scene 1

What angel wakes me from my flow’ry bed?

– Titania, Act III, scene 1

Lord, what fools these mortals be!

– Puck, Act III, scene 2

O, when she’s angry, she is keen and shrewd! She was a vixen when she went to school; And though she be but little, she is fierce.

– Helena, Act III, scene 2

My Oberon, what visions have I seen! Methought I was enamored of an ass.

– Titania, Act IV, scene 1

I have had a most rare vision. I have had a dream past the wit of man to say what dream it was.

– Bottom, Act IV, scene 1

Are you sure That we are awake? It seems to me That yet we sleep, we dream.

– Demetrius, Act V, scene 1

The lunatic, the lover, and the poet Are of imagination all compact.

– Theseus, Act V, scene 1

In this same interlude it doth befall That I, one Snout by name, present a wall; And such a wall, as I would have you think That had in it a crannied hole or chink, Through which the lovers, Pyramus and Thisbe, Did whisper often very secretly. This loam, this rough-cast and this stone doth show That I am that same wall; the truth is so: And this the cranny is, right and sinister, Through which the fearful lovers are to whisper.

– Snout, Act V, scene 1

If we shadows have offended, Think but this, and all is mended— That you have but slumbered here While these visions did appear. And this weak and idle theme, No more yielding but a dream, Gentles, do not reprehend. If you pardon, we will mend. And, as I am an honest Puck, If we have unearnèd luck Now to ’scape the serpent’s tongue, We will make amends ere long. Else the Puck a liar call. So good night unto you all. Give me your hands if we be friends, And Robin shall restore amends.

– Puck, Act V, scene 1