The Taming of the Shrew Famous Quotes

She is my goods, my chattels; she is my house, My household stuff, my field, my barn, My horse, my ox, my ass, my any thing.

Petruchio at his wedding in Act 3, Scene 2, announcing that he is leaving with Kate immediately — the list turns a wife into property and is the clearest statement of the play's most uncomfortable argument.

This is a way to kill a wife with kindness.

Petruchio alone in Act 4, Scene 1, explaining his method — he plans to deprive Kate of sleep, food, and peace, all while claiming to do it out of excessive care. His description of taming is more self-aware than audiences sometimes give him credit for.

Thy husband is thy lord, thy life, thy keeper, Thy head, thy sovereign; one that cares for thee.

Katharina's speech on wifely obedience in Act 5, Scene 2 — whether this is sincere submission, performance, or a final act of wit aimed at those who doubted her intelligence, readers have argued about for four centuries.

What is she but a foul contending rebel And graceless traitor to her loving lord?

Katharina describing a disobedient wife in Act 5, Scene 2 — she uses political language (rebel, traitor) to frame the domestic question, which is either a performance of Petruchio's vocabulary or a genuine conversion to it.

I come to wive it wealthily in Padua; If wealthily, then happily in Padua.

Petruchio to Hortensio in Act 1, Scene 2, explaining why he has come to Padua — the two halves of the line tie wealth to happiness with a directness that most of the other suitors pretend they do not feel.

Have I not in my time heard lions roar? Have I not heard the sea puff'd up with winds Rage like an angry boar?

Petruchio in Act 1, Scene 2, listing the terrifying things he has already survived — his point is that Katharina's temper is nothing compared to a sea storm or a cannon. The bravado establishes the character before he has met her.

I am he am born to tame you Kate, And bring you from a wild Kate to a Kate Conformable as other household Kates.

Petruchio to Katharina in Act 2, Scene 1, their first meeting — the pun on 'Kate' and 'cat' (a wild cat, a household cat) is deliberate. He has declared his intention to her face before the courtship has properly begun.

Petruchio is my name; Antonio's son, A man well known throughout all Italy.

Petruchio introducing himself to Baptista in Act 2, Scene 1 — the naming of his father places him inside the Paduan social network immediately. Reputation does the courtship work before personality gets a chance.

My tongue will tell the anger of my heart, Or else my heart concealing it will break.

Katharina in Act 4, Scene 3, insisting on her right to speak — the line argues that silence is not neutral but actively harmful, which makes it one of the few moments where her resistance is stated as a principle rather than a reaction.

There's small choice in rotten apples.

Gremio to Hortensio in Act 1, Scene 1, after they agree to cooperate in wooing Bianca — his summary of their situation (both wanting the same woman) is accurate without being optimistic.

Who woo'd in haste and means to wed at leisure.

Grumio at the wedding in Act 3, Scene 2, describing Petruchio — a riff on the proverb 'marry in haste, repent at leisure.' Petruchio's speed is strategic; leisure, for Kate, is what he is about to eliminate.

She is not hot, but temperate as the morn.

Petruchio describing Katharina to Baptista in Act 2, Scene 1 — the claim is grotesquely inaccurate, said straight to her face, and is his first demonstration that he intends to describe the world as he wants it rather than as it is.

I say it is the moon that shines so bright.

Petruchio on the road to Padua in Act 4, Scene 5 — the sun is visibly shining, and he insists it is the moon. This is his test: Kate must agree with him regardless of what she can see. When she does, the taming is effectively complete.

I know it is the sun that shines so bright.

Katharina's initial response in Act 4, Scene 5 — the reply that costs her the argument. She knows what she is looking at, says so, and is overridden. The scene turns on whether this is her last act of independent perception or the start of something more complicated.

I will attend her here, And woo her with some spirit when she comes.

Petruchio to Baptista in Act 2, Scene 1, as Katharina is sent for — 'some spirit' is typically the understatement of the play. The scene that follows is one of Shakespeare's most kinetic battles of words.