William Shakespeare Quotes about Stupidity

Most friendship is feigning, most loving mere folly.

Most friendship is feigning, most loving mere folly.

Stupidity, You Like It, Folly

'As You Like It' (1599) act 2, sc. 7, l. 174

The common curse of mankind, folly and ignorance, be thine in great revenue!

Ignorance, Stupidity, Common

William Shakespeare, Samuel Ayscough, Nicholas Rowe, Samuel Johnson (1791). “Shakspeare's Dramatic Works: With Explanatory Notes. To which is Now Added, a Copious Index to the Remarkable Passages and Words”, p.1570

The amity that wisdom knits not, folly may easily untie.

William Shakespeare

Stupidity, May, Folly

William Shakespeare, Anthony B. Dawson (2003). “Troilus and Cressida”, p.250, Cambridge University Press

Though age from folly could not give me freedom, It does from childishness.

William Shakespeare

Giving, Stupidity, Age

1606 Cleopatra. Antony and Cleopatra, act1, sc.3, l.57.

To be in love- where scorn is bought with groans, Coy looks with heart-sore sighs, one fading moment's mirth With twenty watchful, weary, tedious nights; If haply won, perhaps a hapless gain; If lost, why then a grievous labour won; However, but a folly bought with wit, Or else a wit by folly vanquished.

William Shakespeare

Heart, Night, Stupidity

William Shakespeare (1867). “The Pictorial edition of the works of Shakspere, ed. by C. Knight. [8 vols., including a vol. entitled William Shakspere, by C. Knight]. [8 vols. The vol. containing the biogr. is of the 3rd ed.].”, p.19

We that are true lovers run into strange capers; but as all is mortal in nature, so is all nature in love mortal in folly.

William Shakespeare

Running, Stupidity, Strange

William Shakespeare, James Boswell, Alexander Pope, Edward Capell, Samuel Johnson (1821). “The plays and poems of William Shakspeare”, p.393

And writers say, as the most forward bud Is eaten by the canker ere it blow, Even so by love the young and tender wit Is turn'd to folly, blasting in the bud, Losing his verdure even in the prime, And all the fair effects of future hopes.

William Shakespeare

Blow, Stupidity, Bud

William Shakespeare (1858). “The Plays of Shakespeare”, p.4