Category Archives: Compliments

“I could live for two months on a good compliment”, said Mark Twain. A compliment, especially if tasteful, is a valuable weapon in the art of social intercourse. Shakespeare offers an almost inexhaustible source of compliments that are fresh, clear, elegant and effective. All compliments that appear on this site are extracted form the book “Your Daily Shakespeare.” Blogs are regularly posted on this and many other subjects and categories.

Shakespeare, Compliments on her Complexion

Posted on June 10, 2012 by jimmie

“The brightness of her cheek would shame those stars, As daylight doth lamp…”  (Romeo and Juliet, act 2, sc. 2) Tips for use. Lay it thick,  “the brightness of your cheek would shame those stars…lamp.” Are the lady’s cheeks not as bright she would like them to be? Does she apply make up? Latin poet Read More

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Shakespeare on Music as the Food of Love

Posted on June 1, 2012 by jimmie

“If music be the food of love, play on; Give me excess of it; that surfeiting The appetite may sicken and so die. (Twelfth Night act 1, sc. 1) Tips for use. Answer to ‘Would you like to listen to some music?’ in a romantic setting. Music occupies the void that words cannot fill. Though Read More

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Shakespeare on a Beautiful Female Voice

Posted on May 29, 2012 by jimmie

“….another Juno, who starves the ears she feeds And makes them hungry, the more she gives them speech.” (Pericles act5, sc.1) Tips for use. Perfect reply to the question, “Do you like my singing?” Or if she apologized for having called you on the phone. The Latin Poet Ovid, ancient expert in matters of the Read More

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Shakespeare on Love at First Sight

Posted on May 21, 2012 by jimmie

“Who ever loved that loved not at first sight?” (As You Like It, act 3, sc. 5) Tips for Use.  The theme of love at first sight is frequent in Shakespeare’s plays. Maybe because questions such as ‘When did you first like me?’ or ‘When did you begin to love me?’ or similar, are a Read More

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Shakespeare on One of Love’s Persistent Questions. Take 2

Posted on May 14, 2012 by jimmie

 “…I love you more than words can wield the matter … A love that makes breath poor and speech unable, Beyond all manner of so much I love you.” (King Lear act 1, sc. 1) Tips for Use.  Yesterday’s blog on “neither rhyme nor reason” proved particularly popular, judging by the number of visits. Today Read More

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Shakespeare on One of Love’s Persistent Questions

Posted on May 13, 2012 by jimmie

ROSALIND.  But are you so much in love as your rhymes speak? ORLANDO. Neither rhyme nor reason can express so much. (As You Like It act 3, sc. 2) Tips for Use. “Neither rhyme nor reason…”, one of the many turns of phrase that have filtered down in every day’s English language. In the instance, Read More

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Shakespeare and the Milk of Human Kindness

Posted on May 5, 2012 by jimmie

 “… yet do I fear thy nature; It is too full o’ the milk of human kindness To catch the nearest way:” (Macbeth act 1, sc. 5) Tips for Use.  It is usually somewhat awkward to answer compliments, especially when we are uncertain if the compliment is sincere or flattery, or maybe a bit of Read More

Posted in After Dinner Quotes, Answers to Interviews, Best Shakespeare Quotes, Business Presentations, Compliments, Encouraging Quotes, Philosophical, Psychological & Historical Considerations, Presentation Ideas, Sayings about Life, Shakespeare in Management, Shakespeare in Politics, Social Exchanges Shakespeare style | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Shakespeare Fashion Apparel and Good Advice

Posted on May 3, 2012 by jimmie

 “Costly thy habit as thy purse can buy, But not express’d in fancy; rich, not gaudy; For the apparel oft proclaims the man, And they in France of the best rank and station Are of a most select and generous chief in that.” (Hamlet act 1, sc. 3) Tips for Use.  A good comeback if Read More

Posted in After Dinner Quotes, Amusing Shakespeare, Answers to Interviews, Best Shakespeare Quotes, Business Presentations, Chances Quotes, Compliments, Philosophical, Psychological & Historical Considerations, Presentation Ideas, Shakespeare in Management, Shakespeare on Fashion, Social Exchanges Shakespeare style | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Shakespeare, a Rose and the Questionable Power of the Label

Posted on April 29, 2012 by jimmie

“What’s in a name? That which we call a rose, By any other name would smell as sweet.” (Romeo and Juliet act 2, sc. 2) Tips for Use.  Put a stop to debates about controversial definitions, names, or time-consuming arguments about choosing one name versus another – if in your view the name is irrelevant. Read More

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April Showers, Love, Food for Love all in Sonnet #75

Posted on April 29, 2012 by jimmie

“So are you to my thoughts as food to life, Or as sweet-seasoned showers are to the ground” (SON 75) Tips for Use.  Excellent line for a card or a romantic declaration. It is true that the Sonnet as well as many others were directed to a young man, but the spirit transcends gender limitations. Read More

Posted in Best Shakespeare Quotes, Chances Quotes, Compliments, Elegant Shakespearean Quotes, Motivational Sayings, Romantic Shakespearean Quotes, Sayings about Life, Shakespeare on Food, Social Exchanges Shakespeare style, William Shakespeare Love Quotes | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment