If we wish to know the force of human genius, we should read Shakespeare. If we wish to see the insignificance of human learning, we may study his commentators.
Sentiment: NEGATIVE
What makes Shakespeare eternal is his grasp of psychology. He knew how to nail stuff about us as human beings.
I think you need brains to do any Shakespeare with any authority. I could do Shakespeare, but not with any authority.
I think reading Shakespeare's plays when I was young was extremely important. He had the ability to make utter strangers come alive.
A marvellous power of expression over language often distinguishes genius; but Shakespeare in his phrases seems independent of the bonds of language as of the bonds of metre.
The test of literature is, I suppose, whether we ourselves live more intensely for the reading of it.
I love Shakespeare and the Greeks - learned a lot studying them at one time.
Genius must be born, and never can be taught.
If you're going to do Shakespeare, do Shakespeare. There's a reason why he's been performed for hundreds of years. His words affect people on a very deep level. He's the true humanist. That all comes through his text, his words.
Learning is the ally, not the adversary of genius... he who reads in a proper spirit, can scarcely read too much.
You may be able to read Bernard Shaw's plays, you may be able to quote Shakespeare or Voltaire or some new philosopher; but if you in yourself are not intelligent, if you are not creative, what is the point of this education?