Timon of Athens

The Life of Timon of Athens (c.1608; published 1623) is a play by William Shakespeare about the legendary Athenian misanthrope Timon (and probably influenced by the eponymous philosopher as well). It is generally regarded as one of his most obscure and difficult works. Originally grouped with the tragedies, it is generally considered such, but some scholars group it with the problem comedies.

Every man has his fault, and honesty is his.

Act I

I am not of that feather to shake off
My friend when he most needs me.

• Magic of bounty! all these spirits thy power
  Hath conjur'd to attend! I know the merchant.
  • Poet, scene i

• When we for recompense have prais'd the vile,
  It stains the glory in that happy verse
  Which aptly sings the good.
  • Poet, scene i

• The fire i th' flint
  Shows not till it be struck
  • Poet, scene i

• No levelled malice
  Infects one comma in the course I hold;
  But flies an eagle flight, bold, and forth on,
  Leaving no track behind.
  • Poet, scene i

• I am not of that feather to shake off
  My friend when he most needs me.
  • Timon, scene i

• Here's that, which is too weak to be a sinner, —
  Honest water, which ne'er left man i' the mire.
  • Apemantus, scene ii

• Immortal gods, I crave no pelf;
  I pray for no man but myself:
  Grant I may never prove so fond,
  To trust man on his oath or bond.
  • Apemantus, scene ii

• Men shut their doors against a setting sun.
  • Apemantus, scene ii

Act II

• Every room
  Hath blaz'd with lights, and bray'd with minstrelsy.
  • Flavius, scene ii

• 'T is lack of kindly warmth they are not kind.
  • Timon, scene ii

Act III

• Every man has his fault, and honesty is his.
  • Lucullus, scene i

• Nothing emboldens sin so much as mercy.
  • 1 Senator, scene v

Act IV

Timon will to the woods; where he shall find
The unkindest beast more kinder than mankind.

• Timon will to the woods; where he shall find
  The unkindest beast more kinder than mankind.
  The gods confound — hear me, you good gods all —
  The Athenians both within and out that wall!
  And grant, as Timon grows, his hate may grow
  To the whole race of mankind, high and low!
  Amen.
  • Timon, scene i

• We have seen better days.
  • Flavius, scene ii

• Not within the leaf of pity writ.
  • Timon, scene iii

• If thou wert the lion, the fox would beguile thee; if thou wert the lamb, the fox would eat thee; if thou wert the fox, the lion would suspect thee, when, peradventure, thou wert accused by the ass; if thou wert the ass, thy dulness would torment thee, and still thou livedst but as a breakfast to the wolf; if thou wert the wolf, thy greediness would afflict thee, and oft thou shouldst hazard thy life for thy dinner; wert thou the unicorn, pride and wrath would confound thee, and make thine own self the conquest of thy fury; wert thou a bear, thou wouldst be killed by the horse; wert thou a horse, thou wouldst be seized by the leopard; wert thou a leopard, thou wert german to the lion, and the spots of thy kindred were jurors on thy life; all thy safety were remotion, and thy defence, absence. What beast couldst thou be, that were not subject to a beast? and what beast art thou already, that seest not thy loss in transformation!
  • Timon, scene iii

• I'll example you with thievery:
  The sun's a thief, and with his great attraction
  Robs the vast sea; the moon's an arrant thief,
  And her pale fire she snatches from the sun;
  The sea's a thief, whose liquid surge resolves
  The moon into salt tears; the earth's a thief,
  That feeds and breeds by a composture stol'n
  From general excrement: each thing's a thief:
  The laws, your curb and whip, in their rough power
  Have uncheck'd theft.
  • Timon, scene iii

Act V

• Other incident throes
  That nature's fragile vessel doth sustain
  In life's uncertain voyage.
  • Timon, scene i

• You are an alchemist; make gold of that.
  • Timon, scene i

External links

• Timon of Athens at Project Gutenberg