Shakespeare’s quotes about roses run the gamut from love and beauty to wisdom, cynicism, and politics. There are, of course, the five most famous and often-repeated rose quotes from Shakespeare. But there are also many other quotes about roses that express love, celebrate beauty, or provide a hidden gem of wisdom.
Many of these Shakespeare rose quotes are excellent for sharing in cards, gifts or bouquets. Quite a few of them would make good captions for social media posts. Celebrate your love, encourage a friend, give wise advice, or even send a subtle insult to your enemy.
Five Famous Shakespeare Rose Quotes Explained
These five quotes are probably the most famous quotes from Shakespeare about roses. They are related to topics of love, marriage, politics, and courtship.
By Any Other Name
What’s in a name? That which we call a rose,
By any other name would smell as sweet.—Romeo and Juliet,
Act II, Scene ii
This is perhaps the most well-known and often-quoted Shakespeare rose quote. Juliet speaks this line while she is alone during the famous “balcony scene” in Act II of Romeo and Juliet. In this quote, there is both love and philosophy. A rose would be just a beautiful and lovely, no matter what it was called. We should look beyond the names to appreciate the essence of things.
Trust the Timing
At Christmas I no more desire a rose
Than wish a snow in May’s new-fangled mirth;
But like of each thing that in season grows.—Love’s Labour’s Lost,
Act I, Scene i
This quote is a good bit of wisdom about timing. Each flower, including the rose, has its own best time of year. We wouldn’t want snow in May any more than we would want other things out of their season.
In Praise of Marriage
But earthlier happy is the rose distill’d,
Than that which withering on the virgin thorn,
Grows, lives and dies in single blessedness.—A Midsummer Night’s Dream,
Act I, Scene i
This is a quote in praise of marriage. The rose that is pulled from the stem and made into perfume is a “rose distilled.” This is a metaphor for a woman who is married. The rose that remains on the stalk and lives a natural life offers a different kind of scent, and is a metaphor for a single woman.
Deliberately Contrary
Say that she frown; I’ll say she looks as clear
As morning roses newly wash’d with dew.–Taming of the Shrew,
Act II, Scene i
The famous “taming” of Katherine the Shrew actually begins with this statement from her intended lover, Petruchio. Petruchio declares his intent to deliberately confuse Katherine and remain immune to her unkind personality. He determines to deny any negatives from her and will continue to insist that she is lovely and fair. This is the start of a daring courtship.
War of the Roses
This pale and angry rose…will I for ever and my faction wear.
—Henry VI Part 1,
Act II, Scene iv
In the War of the Roses, the two factions were represented by white and red roses. Shakespeare’s Henry IV plays make dramatic retelling of the political intrigue and great battles of the time. In this quote, the speaker announces his loyalty by selecting a white rose.
Shakespeare Rose Quotes About Love
These Shakespeare quotes use roses as a focal point for expressing love. The Shakespeare rose quotes on this list are fairly short and relatively easy to understand, making them perfect for sharing. They make great additions to a card, gift, or bouquet that you might send to your love.
Swear By the Rose
By the roses of the spring,
by maidhood, honour, truth and every thing,
I love thee so.—Twelfth Night,
Act III, Scene i
You Are Everything
For nothing this wide universe I call,
Save thou, my rose; in it thou art my all.—Sonnet CIX (59)
In Spite of Thorns
What though the rose have prickles, yet ’tis pluck’d.
—Venus and Adonis
Double Entendre
He that the sweetest rose will find, must find love’s prick.
—As You Like It,
Act III, Scene ii
Dreamy Delights
With sweet musk-roses and with eglantine…
Lull’d in these flowers with dances and delight.—A Midsummer Night’s Dream,
Act II, Scene i
Rest Easy
There will I make thee a bed of roses, with a thousand fragrant posies.
–The Passionate Pilgrim
Gentle Confidences
And in the wood, where often you and I,
upon faint primrose-beds were wont to lie,
emptying our bosoms of their counsel sweet.—A Midsummer Night’s Dream,
Act I, Scene i
Assassin’s Imagery
Their lips were four red roses on a stalk,
which in their summer beauty kiss’d each other.—Richard III,
Act IV, Scene iii
Shakespeare Rose Quotes About Beauty
Ever the symbol of beauty, the roses in these Shakespeare quotes will celebrate all that is lovely. These quotes are a good way to compliment someone. Use the quotes on a gift tag, greeting card, or at the close of a special occasion letter. Or share them with a friend who is feeling down. The beauty in the words of these quotes equals the beauty of the roses they describe.
Essence
The rose looks fair, but fairer we it deem
for that sweet odour which doth in it live.Sonnet LIV (54)
Treasures to Reveal
Fair ladies mask’d are roses in their bud.
—Love’s Labour’s Lost,
Act V, Scene ii
Transcendent
Why should poor beauty indirectly seek roses of shadow, since his rose is true?
—Sonnet LVII (67)
Radiantly Real
Of Nature’s gifts thou mayst with lilies boast,
and with the half-blown rose.–King John,
Act III, Scene i
Pure Perfection
For flesh and blood, sir, white and red, you shall see a rose;
and she were a rose indeed.—Pericles,
Act IV, Scene vi
Aesthetic Legacy
From fairest creatures we desire increase,
that thereby beauty’s rose might never die.—Sonnet I (1)
Snow White Will Wake
Thou shalt not lack the flower that’s like thy face, pale primrose,30
nor the azured harebell, like thy veins.—Cymbeline,
Act IV, Scene ii
Light of Loveliness
So sweet a kiss the golden sun gives not to those
fresh morning drops upon the rose.—Love’s Labour’s Lost,
Act IV, Scene iii
Fleeting
For women are as roses, whose fair flower,
being once display’d, doth fall that very hour.—Twelfth Night,
Act II, Scene iv
Imprinted
Nor did I wonder at the lily’s white,
nor praise the deep vermilion in the rose;
they were but sweet, but figures of delight,
drawn after you, you pattern of all those.—Sonnet XCVIII (98)
Poignant Intensity
If ever we are nature’s, these are ours;
this thorn doth to our rose of youth rightly belong.-All’s Well That Ends Well,
Act I, Scene iii
Insightful Shakespeare Rose Quotes
These Shakespeare rose quotes offer wisdom in their words. Some of them are sad. Some of them are symbolic. Almost all of them have some deeper meaning which takes a bit of thought. It’s worth the extra effort, though. These rose quotes are like life advice from Shakespeare with a flowery twist. Shakespeare’s rose quotes are still relevant today. Rise above the norm and use these quotes to get attention for your ideas.
It Takes Both
No more be grieved at that which thou hast done:
roses have thorns, and silver fountains mud.—Sonnet XXXV (35)
The Wolf You Feed
Wither one rose, and let the other flourish.
—Henry VI Part 3,
Act II, Scene v
Let it Grow
When I have pluck’d the rose,
I cannot give it vital growth again.
It must needs wither.–Othello,
Act V, Scene ii
Lasting Impression
Sweet roses do not so;
Of their sweet deaths are sweetest odours made.–Sonnet LIV (54)
Changeable Public
Against the blown rose may they stop their nose
that kneel’d unto the buds.—Antony and Cleopatra,
Act IV, Scene xiv
Honorably Tough
I had rather be a canker in a hedge than a rose in his grace,
and it better fits my blood to be disdained of all
than to fashion a carriage to rob love from any.—Much Ado About Nothing,
Act I, Scene iii
Avoid the Takers
But when you have our roses, you barely leave our thorns
to prick ourselves, and mock us with our bareness.—Antony and Cleopatra,
Act III, Scene xiii
Villainy Mars
Such an act that blurs the grace and blush of modesty;
calls virtue hypocrite; takes off the rose from the fair forehead of an innocent love.—Hamlet,
Act III, Scene iv
Road to Hell
I had thought to have let in some of all professions
that go the primrose way to the everlasting bonfire.—Macbeth,
Act II, Scene iii
Alluring Conceits
How sweet and lovely dost thou make the shame which,
like a canker in the fragrant rose, doth spot the beauty of thy budding name!–Sonnet XCV (95)
Inflated Ego
Like a puff’d and reckless libertine,
himself the primrose path of dalliance treads.—Hamlet,
Act I, Scene iii
Unique Shakespeare Rose Quotes
These Shakespeare rose quotes are less well-known. They don’t all suit a specific occasion. These Shakespeare rose quotes are also a little bit harsher in meaning, so may only be appropriate for sharing in very certain circumstances. When you are in touch with someone who really understands, though, these quotes are a perfect way to share your sharpest views. Let’s be honest. Sometimes you just want to say something with a little saltiness. Shakespeare offers a great way to do this.
Accidental Ally
Prick not your finger as you pluck it off,
lest bleeding you do paint the white rose red, and fall on my side so, against your will.—Henry VI Part 1,
Act II, Scene iv
Have Empathy
But see, or rather do not see, my fair rose wither:
yet look up, behold, that you in pity may dissolve to dew.–Richard II,
Act V, Scene i
Insecurity
In mine ear I durst not stick a rose
lest men should say
‘Look, where three-farthings goes!’—King John,
Act I, Scene i
Call to Action
Let him that is no coward nor no flatterer,
but dare maintain the party of the truth,
pluck a red rose from off this thorn with me.—Henry VI Part 1,
Act II, Scene iv
Confuse Your Competitors
Therefore, change favours;
and, when they repair,
blow like sweet roses in this summer air.—Love’s Labour’s Lost,
Act V, Scene ii
Announcement of Loyalty
Then will I raise aloft the milk-white rose,
with whose sweet smell the air shall be perfumed.
—Henry VI, Part 2,
Act I, Scene i
Talented Painter
Even her art sisters the natural roses.
–Pericles,
Act V, Prologue
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