Key Quotes

• What is the first quote from the Three Witches in Macbeth?

  “Fair is foul, and foul is fair.”
• Who says, “What bloody man is that?” in Macbeth?

  King Duncan
• What is the quote by Banquo that mentions the insane root?

  “Or have we eaten on the insane root?”
• What does King Duncan mean by “Present fears are less than horrible imaginings”?

  Real fears are less than imagined fears.
• What does Donalbain say about men’s smiles?

  “There’s daggers in men’s smiles.”
• What is the famous quote from the Witches in Act 4 Scene 1?

  “Double, double toil and trouble.”
• What does the Second Witch say in Act 4 Scene 1?

  “Something wicked this way comes.”
• What does the Third apparition tell Macbeth?

  “Macbeth shall never vanquished be.”
• What does Lady Macduff say about traitors?

  “Our fears do make us traitors.”
• What does Angus say about Macbeth's title?

  “Now does he feel his title hang loose.”
• What does Macduff say in Act 2 Scene 3?

  “Tongue nor heart cannot conceive nor name thee!”
• What does the Doctor say in Act 5 Scene 3?

  “The patient must minister to himself.”
• What does Macduff say in Act 5 Scene 6?

  “Those clamorous harbingers of blood and death.”
• What does Macbeth say about nothing in Act 1 Scene 3?

  “Nothing is but what is not.”
• What does Macbeth mean by “Time and the hour runs through the roughest day”?

  Time continues despite difficulties.
• What does Macbeth say about a false face in Act 1 Scene 7?

  “False face must hide what the false heart doth know.”
• What does Macbeth mean by “If it were done when ’tis done”?

  He wishes to complete his deed quickly.
• What does Macbeth see in Act 2 Scene 1?

  “Is this a dagger which I see before me?”
• What does Macbeth say about Neptune’s ocean in Act 2 Scene 2?

  “Will all great Neptune’s ocean wash this blood clean?”
• What does Macbeth say about sleep in Act 2 Scene 2?

  “Macbeth does murder sleep.”
• What does Macbeth mean by “Things bad begun make strong themselves by ill”?

  Bad actions lead to more bad outcomes.
• What does Macbeth say about blood in Act 3 Scene 4?

  “Blood will have blood.”
• What does Macbeth say about the Witches in Act 4 Scene 1?

  “How now, you secret, black, and midnight hags!”
• What does Macbeth call the cream-faced loon in Act 5 Scene 3?

  “The devil damn thee black.”
• What does Macbeth say about tomorrow in Act 5 Scene 5?


  “Tomorrow, and tomorrow, and tomorrow.”
• What does Macbeth mean by “Life’s but a walking shadow”?

  Life is fleeting and insubstantial.
• What does Macbeth say about his charmed life in Act 5 Scene 8?

  “I bear a charmed life.”
• What does Lady Macbeth say about the raven in Act 1 Scene 5?

  “The raven himself is hoarse.”
• What does Lady Macbeth fear about Macbeth’s nature?

  “It is too full o’ the milk of human kindness.”
• What does Lady Macbeth ask the spirits to do in Act 1 Scene 5?

  “Unsex me here.”
• What does Lady Macbeth mean by “Look like th’ innocent flower, but be the serpent under’t”?

  Appear innocent while being deceitful.
• What does Lady Macbeth say about her milk in Act 1 Scene 5?

  “Take my milk for gall.”
• What does Lady Macbeth say about her purpose in Act 1 Scene 5?

  “Which shall to all our nights and days to come give solely sovereign sway.”
• What does Lady Macbeth say about cowardice in Act 1 Scene 7?

  “Letting ‘I dare not’ wait upon ‘I would.’”
• What does Lady Macbeth say about her love for her child in Act 1 Scene 7?

  “I would have plucked my nipple from his gums.”
• What does Lady Macbeth say about the daggers in Act 2 Scene 2?

  “I laid their daggers ready.”
• What does Lady Macbeth say about the spot in Act 5 Scene 1?

  “Out! damned spot!”
• What does Lady Macbeth mean by “All the perfumes of Arabia will not sweeten this little hand”?

  No fragrance can cleanse her guilt.
• What does Lady Macbeth say about what’s done in Act 5 Scene 1?

  “What’s done cannot be undone.”
• What are some notable themes in Macbeth?

  • Ambition
  • Guilt
  • Fate vs. Free Will
  • The Supernatural
  • The Nature of Evil