20+ William Shakespeare’s Sleep Quotations to Inspire Sweet Slumber

Explore the depths of Shakespeare’s understanding as you journey through these quotes, finding solace, inspiration, and perhaps a newfound appreciation for sleeping.

20+ William Shakespeare quote about sleep

“To die, to sleep – to sleep, perchance to dream – ay, there’s the rub, for in this sleep of death what dreams may come…” – William Shakespeare

“You lack the season of all natures, sleep.” – William Shakespeare

“O sleep! O gentle sleep! Nature’s soft nurse, how have I frighted thee, That thou no more wilt weigh my eyelids down And steep my senses in forgetfulness? Why rather, sleep, liest thou in smoky cribs, Upon uneasy pallets stretching thee, And hush’d with buzzing night-flies to thy slumber, Than in the perfum’d chambers of the great, Under the canopies of costly state, And lull’d with sound of sweetest melody?” – William Shakespeare

“Thou hast no figures nor no fantasies; Which busy care draws in the brains of men; Therefore thou sleep’st so sound.” – William Shakespeare

“Innocent sleep. Sleep that soothes away all our worries. Sleep that puts each day to rest. Sleep that relieves the weary laborer and heals hurt minds. Sleep, the main course in life’s feast, and the most nourishing.” – William Shakespeare

“We are such stuff as dreams are made on; and our little life is rounded with a sleep.” – William Shakespeare

“Sleep that knits up the ravell’d sleave of care, the death of each day’s life, sore labour’s bath, balm of hurt minds, great nature’s second course, chief nourisher in life’s feast.” – William Shakespeare

“To be, or not to be, that is the question: Whether ’tis Nobler in the mind to suffer The Slings and Arrows of outrageous Fortune, Or to take Arms against a Sea of troubles, And by opposing end them: to die, to sleep No more; and by a sleep, to say we end The Heart-ache, and the thousand Natural shocks That Flesh is heir to? ‘Tis a consummation Devoutly to be wished. To die to sleep, To sleep, perchance to Dream; Aye, there’s the rub.” – William Shakespeare

“Drink, sir, is a great provoker of three things . . . nose-painting, sleep, and urine. Lechery, sir, it provokes, and unprovokes; it provokes the desire, but it takes away the performance.” – William Shakespeare

“And sleep, that sometime shuts up sorrow’s eye, Steal me awhile from mine own company.” – William Shakespeare

“Are you sure/That we are awake? It seems to me/That yet we sleep, we dream” – William Shakespeare

“Be not afeard; the isle is full of noises, Sounds, and sweet airs, that give delight and hurt not. Sometimes a thousand twangling instruments Will hum about mine ears; and sometime voices, That, if I then had waked after long sleep, Will make me sleep again: and then, in dreaming, The clouds methought would open, and show riches Ready to drop upon me; that, when I waked, I cried to dream again.” – William Shakespeare

“What early tongue so sweet saluteth me? Young son, it argues a distemper’d head So soon to bid good morrow to thy bed: Care keeps his watch in every old man’s eye, And where care lodges, sleep will never lie; But where unbruised youth with unstuff’d brain Doth couch his limbs, there golden sleep doth reign.” – William Shakespeare

“Sir, in my heart there was a kind of fighting That would not let me sleep.” – William Shakespeare

“‘Tis dangerous to take a cold, to sleep, to drink; but I tell you, my lord fool, out of this nettle, danger, we pluck this flower, safety.” – William Shakespeare

“For some must watch, while some must sleep So runs the world away” – William Shakespeare

“There’s little of the melancholy element in her, my lord: she is never sad but when she sleeps; and not ever sad then; for I have heard my daughter say, she hath often dreamt of unhappiness, and waked herself with laughing.” – William Shakespeare

“For in that sleep of death what dreams may come.” – William Shakespeare

“What, all so soon asleep! I wish mine eyes Would, with themselves, shut up my thoughts.” – William Shakespeare

“He that sleeps feels not the tooth-ache” – William Shakespeare

“He that is thy friend indeed, He will help thee in thy need: If thou sorrow, he will weep; If thou wake, he cannot sleep: Thus of every grief in heart He with thee does bear a part. These are certain signs to know Faithful friend from flattering foe.” – William Shakespeare

“Enjoy the honey-heavy dew of slumber.” – William Shakespeare

Conclusion

Each quote offers a glimpse into Shakespeare’s profound understanding of the restorative power and mysteries of sleep. We hope you like our collection of William Shakespeare’s Sleep Quotations.