Hamlet Hamlet Quotes

Hamlet

Quote 28

HAMLET
O villain, villain, smiling, damnèd villain!
My tables—meet it is I set it down
That one may smile, and smile, and be a villain.
At least I'm sure it may be so in Denmark.
(1.5.113-116)

Well, duh. The only question is, which kind of smile is your villain using—the Cheshire Cat Grin? The Sideways Smile? Or—we imagine this is Claudius' favorite—the Psychotic Smirk?

Hamlet

Quote 29

HAMLET
You were sent
for, and there is a kind of confession in your looks
which your modesties have not craft enough to
color. I know the good king and queen have sent for
you.
(2.2.300-304)

The force (of sensing deception) is strong in this one: Hamlet's old friends try to deceive him, but Hamlet sees right through it.

Hamlet > Ophelia

Quote 30

HAMLET
[…] Where's your father?

OPHELIA
At home, my lord.

HAMLET
Let the doors be shut upon him, that he may
play the fool no where but in 's own house. Farewell.
(3.1.141-144)

When Hamlet confronts her, Ophelia lies to him outright—but she has no choice. As an unmarried daughter, she has to obey her father's order to help him catch Hamlet. And it ends up killing her, just like it kills him.