We have listed some well-known quotes from Troilus and Cressida, Shakespeare's tragedy set during the Trojan War.

A girl in a cape puts her arms around a man in a military shirt, both of them looking up at someone
Troilus and Cressida in 2012, a collaboration between The Wooster Group and the RSC as part of the World Shakespeare Festival
Photo by Hugo Glendinning © RSC Browse and license our images

Her bed is India: there she lies, a pearl.
(Troilus, Act 1 Scene 1)

Alexander: They say he is a very man per se, and stands alone.
Cressida: So do all men, unless they are drunk, sick, or have no legs. 
(Act 1 Scene 2)

Things won are done, joy's soul lies in the doing. 
That she beloved knows nought that knows nought this: 
Men prize the thing ungained more than it is.
(Cressida, Act 1 Scene 2)

The heavens themselves, the planets and this centre
Observe degree, priority and place,
Insisture, course, proportion, season, form,
Office and custom, in all line of order.
(Ulysses, Act 1 Scene 3)

There is seen
The baby figure of the giant mass
Of things to come at large.
(Nestor, Act 1 Scene 3)

We turn not back the silks upon the merchant 
When we have spoiled them.
(Troilus, Act 2 Scene 2)

The common curse of mankind, folly and ignorance, be thine in great revenue!
(Thersites, Act 2 Scene 3)

They say all lovers swear more performance than they are able.
(Cressida, Act 3 Scene 2)

Time hath, my lord, a wallet at his back, 
Wherein he puts alms for oblivion, 
A great-sized monster of ingratitudes: 
Those scraps are good deeds past; which are devoured 
As fast as they are made, forgot as soon 
As done. 
(Ulysses, Act 3 Scene 3)

One touch of nature makes the whole world kin.
(Ulysses, Act 3 Scene 3)

A plague of opinion! A man may wear it on both sides, like a leather jerkin.
(Thersites, Act 3 Scene 3)

Time, force and death, 
Do to this body what extremity you can; 
But the strong base and building of my love 
Is as the very centre of the earth, 
Drawing all things to it. 
(Cressida, Act 4 Scene 2)

There's language in her eye, her cheek, her lip;
Nay, her foot speaks, her wanton spirits look out
At every joint and motive of her body.
(Ulysses, Act 4 Scene 5)

The end crowns all,
And that old common arbitrator, Time,
Will one day end it.
(Hector, Act 4 Scene 5)

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