Some well-known quotes from The Merry Wives of Windsor, listed in order of appearance in the play.
All his successors - gone before him - hath done’t, and all his ancestors - that come after him –may.
(Slender, Act 1 Scene 1)
Thou art the Mars of malcontents.
(Pistol, Act 1 Scene 3)
Here will be an old abusing of God's patience and the King's English.
(Mistress Quickly, Act 1 Scene 4)
I love not the humour of bread and cheese.
(Nim, Act 2 Scene 1)
Why, then the world's mine oyster, which I with sword will open.
(Pistol, Act 2 Scene 2)
Marry, this is the short and the long of it.
(Mistress Quickly, Act 2 Scene 2)
Setting the attractions of my good parts aside, I have no other charms.
(Falstaff, Act 2 Scene 2)
Falstaff: Of what quality was your love, then?
Ford: Like a fair house built on another man’s ground
(Act 2 Scene 2)
Better three hours too soon than a minute too late.
(Ford, Act 2 Scene 2)
A man of my kidney.
(Falstaff, Act 3 Scene 5)
Why, woman, your husband is in his old lines again: he so takes on yonder with my husband, so rails against all married mankind, so curses all Eve's daughters of what complexion soever.
(Mistress Page, Act 4 Scene 2)
Wives may be merry, and yet honest too.
(Mistress Page, Act 4 Scene 2)
I hope good luck lies in odd numbers.
(Falstaff, Act 5 Scene 1)
O powerful Love, that in some respects makes a beast a man, in some other a man a beast.
(Falstaff, Act 5 Scene 5)
I think the devil will not have me damned, lest the oil that's in me should set hell on fire.
(Falstaff, Act 5 Scene 5)
In love the heavens themselves do guide the state.
Money buys lands, and wives are sold by fate.
(Ford, Act 5 Scene 5)