William Shakespeare Quotes About Insomnia

• O sleep! O gentle sleep! Nature's soft nurse, how have I frighted thee, That thou no more wilt weigh my eyelids down And steep my senses in forgetfulness? Why rather, sleep, liest thou in smoky cribs, Upon uneasy pallets stretching thee, And hush'd with buzzing night-flies to thy slumber, Than in the perfum'd chambers of the great, Under the canopies of costly state, And lull'd with sound of sweetest melody?

  William Shakespeare

  Nature, Sleep, Night

  'Henry IV, Part 2' (1597) act 3, sc. 1, l. 5

• We are such stuff as dreams are made on; and our little life is rounded with a sleep.

  William Shakespeare

  Life, Good Night, Dream

  'The Tempest' (1611) act 4, sc. 1, l. 148

• Methought I heard a voice cry 'Sleep no more!
  Macbeth does murder sleep', the innocent sleep,
  Sleep that knits up the ravell'd sleeve of care,
  The death of each day's life, sore labour's bath,
  Balm of hurt minds, great nature's second course,
  Chief nourisher in life's feast...

  William Shakespeare

  Hurt, Sleep, Insomnia

  'Macbeth' (1606) act 2, sc. 2, l. 36

• What early tongue so sweet saluteth me? Young son, it argues a distemper'd head So soon to bid good morrow to thy bed: Care keeps his watch in every old man's eye, And where care lodges, sleep will never lie; But where unbruised youth with unstuff'd brain Doth couch his limbs, there golden sleep doth reign.

  William Shakespeare

  Sweet, Lying, Sleep

  William Shakespeare (2014). “Arden Shakespeare Complete Works”, p.1019, Bloomsbury Publishing

• Weary with toil, I haste me to my bed The dear repose for limbs with travel tired; But then begins a journey in my head To work my mind, when body's work's expir'd: For then my thoughts-from far where I abide- Intend a zealous pilgrimage to thee, And keep my drooping eyelids open wide, Looking on darkness which the blind do see: Save that my soul's imaginary sight Presents thy shadow to my sightless view, Which, like a jewel hung in ghastly night, Makes black night beauteous and her old face new. Lo! thus, by day my limbs, by night my mind, For thee, and for myself no quiet find.

  William Shakespeare

  Tired, Night, Journey

  Sonnet 27

• You lack the season of all natures, sleep.

  William Shakespeare

  Sleep, Insomnia, Macbeth Theme

  'Macbeth' (1606) act 3, sc. 4, l. 141

• Thou hast no figures nor no fantasies Which busy care draws in the brains of men; Therefore thou sleep'st so sound.

  William Shakespeare

  Sleep, Insomnia, Men

  William Shakespeare, George Steevens (1853). “The Works of William Shakespeare: Comprising His Dramatic and Poetical Works, Complete”, p.235

• O polished perturbation! golden care! That keep'st the ports of slumber open wide To many a watchful night.

  William Shakespeare

  Night, Insomnia, Slumber

  'Henry IV, Part 2' (1597) act 4, sc. 5, l. 22

• O sleep, O gentle sleep, Nature's soft nurse, how have I frightened thee, 1710. That thou no more will weigh my eyelids down, And steep my senses in forgetfulness?

  William Shakespeare

  Sleep, Insomnia, Nurse

• O sleep! O gentle sleep! Nature's soft nurse.

  William Shakespeare

  Sleep, Insomnia, Nurse

  'Henry IV, Part 2' (1597) act 3, sc. 1, l. 5

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