It’s Shakespeare’s birthday weekend and I’m celebrating in his birthplace of Stratford-upon-Avon (Will, you don’t look a day over 400). So, in the spirit of all things literary and wanderlustful, I have compiled a list of Shakespeare quotes about travel from the bard’s most famous plays; to inspire you to either pick up a pen or get on a plane (or both).
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The Winter’s Tale
“To unpathed waters, undreamed shores”
This whimsical phrase is taken from a longer passage of The Winter’s Tale, where Camillo is advising Florizel and Perdita not to go off to some impossibly remote and dangerous part of the world. But, I say, the more that people tell you somewhere is too remote or too dangerous to travel to, the more it convinces you to go.
The Merry Wives of Windsor
“The world’s mine oyster, which I with sword will open”
Oh yes, “The world is my oyster” is a phrase – one of many – that we owe to Shakespeare and is now canon in the contemporary lexicon. This quote comes from The Merry Wives of Windsor and is actually a sort-of threat by Pistol to Falstaff, who is refusing to lend him money. In Pistol’s metaphor, he is warning that he will open people’s purses and take the riches for himself.
…I much prefer the wistful adventure of the modern interpretation.
Hamlet
“There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of in your philosophy.”
This has to be one of my favourite Shakespeare quotes and I wrote it in my school notebooks when I was feeling particularly daydreamy. This poetic remark comes from the titular character in Hamlet, who, in his infamous melancholy, reminds his friend Horatio of the limitations of human knowledge. Deep.
“The best safety lies in fear”
Another goodie from Hamlet, this time from Laetres, Ophelia’s brother. Although this quote alone sounds like motivational encouragement about getting out of your comfort zone, in the longer passage Laertes is quite serious. He’s basically warning Ophelia not to sleep with Hamlet before they’re married or she’ll ruin herself. Thanks, bro.
Troilus and Cressida
“One touch of nature makes the whole world kin”
In this quote from Troilus and Cressida, Ulysses is trying to convince the warrior Achilles to return to the Trojan War. The “touch of nature” refers to a “natural trait” that all humans have, which links us all as family. However, that’s where the poetry ends. Ulysses’ motivating pep talk argues that it is human nature to forget faded glories. Our “touch of nature” is simply the flaw of having a short memory.
Much Ado About Nothing
“One foot on sea, and one on shore, To one thing constant never”
Yet another eloquent quote about travel taken completely out of context, you may recognise the longer passage here: “Sigh no more, ladies, sigh no more, Men were deceivers ever, One foot in sea and one on shore, To one thing constant never.”
Much Ado About Nothing is my favourite Shakespeare play and I love that this line from Balthasar’s song might as well be taken directly from Beyonce’s Lemonade – essentially, all men are bastards.
Coriolanus
“There is a world elsewhere”
This quote is spoken by Coriolanus in response to Cominus being banished from Rome. The hero loses his temper and announces that he will turn his back on the city and start a new life elsewhere. Now there’s something I can relate to! Only I would prefer to move to Rome rather than leave it…
“What is the city but the people?”
This phrase from Coriolanus is attributed to Sicinius, who is lecturing on Rome and its democracy. I prefer to interpret it a little less politically; what is a place without the people who built it and now live in it? The people make the city.
Twelfth Night
“There is no darkness but ignorance”
This quote from Twelfth Night is actually spoken by the fool and is not only one of the most relevant Shakespeare quotes about travel, but it’s also an incredibly powerful and relevant message for today.
The Tempest
“I would not wish any companion in the world but you”
We couldn’t have a list of the best Shakespeare quotes about travel without including something from The Tempest, the travelly-est of all Shakespeare’s plays. This quote is spoken by Miranda as she meets and falls in love with Ferdinand (which would be sweet, except that she’s never seen another human other than her father before, so it seems a little weird).
“Travelers never did lie, Though fools at home condemn them”
Perhaps one of the best Shakespeare quotes about travel on this list because it actually mentions travellers, this is another corker from The Tempest. This time the shipwrecked men have just encountered the more mystical inhabitants of the island and are pretty gobsmacked. Based on this otherworldly experience, they decide that all the far-fetched stories they’ve heard from other travellers in the past must be true.
Cymbeline
“Boldness, be my friend”
This Cymbeline quote is spoken by Iachimo, who is actually a bit of a douchebag. Iachimo wants to win a bet by sleeping with his friend’s wife, Imogen. However, upon meeting Imogen he realises it might not be as easy as he thought. Again, this quote sounds a lot better taken out of context.
As You Like It
“I like this place and could willingly waste my time in it”
This quote is true of me in every cafe, library or bookshop I venture into. In As You Like It, Rosalind uses this phrase to describe how she feels upon arriving in the beautiful Forest of Arden, where she flees to after being banished by her Uncle Frederick.
“All the world’s a stage, and all the men and women merely players”
Who doesn’t know or love this quote from As You Like It? In full: “All the world’s a stage, and all the men and women merely players. They have their exits and their entrances, and one man in his time plays many parts.” Nuff said.
A Midsummer Night’s Dream
“My soul is in the sky”
This lovely quote from A Midsummer Night’s Dream made me feel all warm and fuzzy inside until I discovered where it lies in the text. In The Most Lamentable Comedy and Most Cruel Death of Pyramus and Thisbe, a play within a play (because Shakespeare), the character of Moonshine utters this phrase as he stabs himself to death.
Romeo and Juliet
“Go, girl, seek happy nights to happy days”
I choose to believe that this is proof that Shakespeare is the first to have coined the phrase, “You go, girl!”.
In this quote from Romeo and Juliet, the Capulets are getting ready for their party and Juliet’s nurse is telling her to have a good time… or if we’re to translate the phrase as “find yourself a nice man who will give you happy nights at the end of your happy days”, then she’s encouraging her to have a really good time…
“Be patient, for the world is broad and wide”
For me, this echoes “so much to see, so little time.” However, this quote from Romeo and Juliet is taken from Friar Lawrence’s dialogue as he delivers news to Romeo that he is banished from Verona. Of course, being a typical teenager, Romeo whines that he might as well be dead.
Not By Shakespeare
“The earth has music for those who listen”
In researching this post for the best Shakespeare quotes about travel, I came across this one a fair few times. The words wouldn’t sound out of place in a moving sonnet or contemplative monologue in Shakespeare’s extensive repertoire, but unfortunately this phrase belongs to George Santayana and is often misquoted.
More Shakespeare Quotes About Travel
Did I miss out your favourite? Let me know in the comments.
For more travel quotes and pinnable quote images (gotta love a good motivational quote pin), I highly recommend you read Reasons to Stay Alive Quotes About Mental Health, My Favourite Quotes from Wild by Cheryl Strayed and The Best Buddha Quotes About Life.
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