Quotes (Antony and Cleopatra)

This section explains the key quotes and their Explanations in the play Antony and Cleopatra by William Shakespeare. These quotes from Antony and Cleopatra illustrate the central themes of the play: duty versus desire, honour, power, and the conflict between Rome and Egypt. Shakespeare uses rich and vivid language to convey the emotional complexity of the characters, particularly the tragic tension between Antony’s responsibilities and his passion for Cleopatra. The imagery of decay, immortality, and heroism enriches the play’s exploration of human ambition and the consequences of personal choices.

"Let Rome in Tiber melt, and the wide arch / Of the ranged empire fall! Here is my space." Act 1, Scene 1 – Antony

Antony declares his passion for Cleopatra, suggesting he is willing to abandon his duties to Rome for her. This quote sets up the conflict between duty and desire that defines Antony’s character and foreshadows his downfall.

"The triple pillar of the world transformed / Into a strumpet’s fool." Act 1, Scene 1 – Philo

Philo, a Roman soldier, expresses contempt for Antony, accusing him of neglecting his duties for love. Antony, one of the three rulers of Rome, is reduced to a “fool” for Cleopatra, symbolising how his relationship weakens his political stature.

"Age cannot wither her, nor custom stale / Her infinite variety." Act 2, Scene 2 – Enobarbus

Enobarbus describes Cleopatra’s timeless allure. She is portrayed as a woman of captivating and endless charm. This quote reflects Cleopatra’s power over Antony and others, as well as her symbolic representation of Egypt’s exoticism.

"My salad days, / When I was green in judgement, cold in blood." Act 1, Scene 5 – Cleopatra

Cleopatra reflects on her youth, describing it as her “salad days,” when she was immature and less passionate. This line hints at Cleopatra’s self-awareness, suggesting that her love for Antony is more mature and intense than any she has experienced before.

"I must be gone, and live, or stay and die." Act 1, Scene 3 – Antony

Antony, torn between his responsibilities to Rome and his love for Cleopatra, acknowledges the consequences of staying with her. This moment encapsulates the central tension in the play: the pull between personal passion and political duty.

"Though age from folly could not give me freedom, / It does from childishness." Act 1, Scene 3 – Cleopatra

Cleopatra admits that, though she may still act foolishly out of love for Antony, she is no longer childish in her understanding of her emotions. This line highlights Cleopatra’s emotional complexity and maturity in her relationship with Antony.

"If I lose mine honour, I lose myself." Act 3, Scene 4 – Antony

Honour is a core value in Roman society, and Antony expresses the importance of it here. However, his struggle between honour and love drives the play’s central conflict, as his devotion to Cleopatra risks his reputation in Rome.

"I will praise any man that will praise me." Act 2, Scene 1 – Pompey

Pompey’s light-hearted remark about flattery suggests the superficiality of political alliances. This line touches on the theme of power politics and reveals the cynical, self-serving nature of many of the characters in the Roman world.

"Men’s judgements are / A parcel of their fortunes, and things outward / Do draw the inward quality after them." Act 3, Scene 13 – Enobarbus

Enobarbus reflects on how external circumstances shape people’s character and behaviour. This quote explores the theme of fate versus free will, suggesting that Antony’s outward decline affects his inner self and judgment.

"He was disposed to mirth, but on the sudden / A Roman thought hath struck him." Act 2, Scene 5 – Cleopatra

Cleopatra remarks on Antony’s changing mood, highlighting the constant conflict within him between being a lover and a Roman warrior. This quote captures the dual nature of Antony’s character, torn between two contrasting worlds.

"The breaking of so great a thing should make / A greater crack." Act 5, Scene 1 – Caesar

Caesar reflects on Antony’s death, noting that such a powerful figure’s demise should have had more visible impact. This underscores the tragic irony of Antony’s fall: a once-great leader dies in a way that fails to match his former grandeur.

"O, withered is the garland of the war, / The soldier’s pole is fallen!" Act 4, Scene 12 – Antony

Antony, realising that he has lost his military power and honour, laments the collapse of his status as a great soldier. This image of a “withered garland” symbolises the death of heroism and Antony’s personal tragedy.

"I am dying, Egypt, dying." Act 4, Scene 15 – Antony

Antony’s words to Cleopatra during his final moments are highly emotional, blending his love for Cleopatra with his realisation of mortality. Egypt and Cleopatra are intertwined with his identity, and as he dies, so too does his connection to her and the world of Egypt.

"The odds is gone, / And there is nothing left remarkable / Beneath the visiting moon." Act 4, Scene 15 – Cleopatra

Cleopatra, after Antony’s death, laments that the world has lost its significance. Antony was, to her, the last thing “remarkable,” and his death leaves a world devoid of meaning. This quote highlights Cleopatra’s deep love for Antony and her loss of purpose without him.

"I have immortal longings in me." Act 5, Scene 2 – Cleopatra

Cleopatra expresses her desire to die nobly and reunite with Antony in death. The phrase “immortal longings” captures her determination to control her own fate, even as death approaches, and reflects her aspiration for immortality beyond the mortal world.

"My desolation does begin to make / A better life." Act 5, Scene 2 – Cleopatra

Cleopatra sees her approaching death as a way to transcend her earthly sufferings and achieve a “better life” in the afterlife. This reveals Cleopatra’s nobility and her sense of control over her destiny, as she views death as a means to restore dignity.

"His legs bestrid the ocean; his reared arm / Crested the world." Act 5, Scene 1 – Cleopatra

Cleopatra glorifies Antony, recalling his past greatness. Her vivid imagery of Antony as a giant dominating the world contrasts with his tragic fall, serving as a tribute to his lost power and heroic stature.

"I have lost my way for ever." Act 3, Scene 11 – Antony

Antony realises that his decisions have led to irreversible consequences, acknowledging the permanence of his downfall. This line reveals Antony’s growing despair and the weight of his choices, as he feels lost in both his military and personal life.

"Now no more / The juice of Egypt’s grape shall moist this lip." Act 2, Scene 7 – Pompey

Pompey reflects on his decision to abstain from Egyptian wine, symbolising his refusal to be seduced by the pleasures of Egypt. This line highlights the contrast between the Roman focus on discipline and Egypt’s indulgence.

"In praising Antony, I have dispraised Caesar." Act 2, Scene 2 – Agrippa

Agrippa acknowledges that by praising Antony’s greatness, he has inadvertently diminished Caesar’s reputation. This quote highlights the rivalry between Antony and Caesar and reflects the competitive nature of power in Rome.