"Nothing like the sun." Shakespeare, Sonnet 130

I'll begin by noting that the epigraph atop this post is drawn not from Hamlet but from Shakespeare's Sonnet No. 130 to help convey that these Hamlet quotes, like my blog's posts, may be designed to shed light on a scene but their meaning may require deeper consideration of context to negotiate the shadows cast. Hamlet of course is Shakespeare's tragedy set in Denmark and written around 1600. It is thought by many to be one of the greatest plays of all time.

Part 1. The Sublimity of Existence
Sublimity is the quality of being extremely good, extremely beautiful, and with flavors of a noble grandeur. By existence I mean the broad definition of human existence, both biological and cognitive.

1. One of the most well known lines from Shakespeare starts one of Hamlet's solioquies (from Act 3 Scene 1) on the question of life versus death, perhaps the central theme of the play weighing the suffering of living against the uncertainty of an unknown afterlife.

"To be, or not to be, that is the question." (Hamlet, Act 3 Scene 1)

2. On self-awareness, which Polonius personalized with a strong dose of irony.

"This above all: to thine own self be true." (Polonius, Act 1 Scene 3)

3. On the fleeting nature of life, Hamlet embraces a skull in a cemetary. Often paraphrased as "Alas, poor Yorick, I knew him well."

"Alas, poor Yorick! I knew him, Horatio: A fellow of infinite jest." (Hamlet, Act 5 Scene 1)

Part 2. The Sublimity of Subjectivity
Subjectivity reflects personal feelings, opinions, or experiences rather than external facts or evidence.

4. Often paraphrased as "There's method in the madness" but representing a common truth.

"Though this be madness, yet there is method in't." (Polonius, Act 2 Scene 2)

5. Our understanding is limited and there's much beyond our comprehension or even our imagination.

"There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, Than are dreamt of in your philosophy." (Hamlet, Act 1 Scene 5)

6. Subjectivity versus objectivity, or this blog as opposed to the current lack of critical thinking and allegiance to the loudest voice (the Publilius Syrus quote "ignorance is bliss" is also apt).

"There is nothing either good or bad, but thinking makes it so." (Hamlet, Act 2 Scene 2)

Part 3. The Sublimity of the Obvious
Sublimity is not usually associated with the obvious. These next quotes are well-known but neither deep and possess little in the area of sublimity.

7. Policies and expected behaviors may be understood but practiced infrequently nor judged when not practiced (expected social behaviors such as position, dress, and honors come to mind).

"More honored in the breach than the observance." (Hamlet, Act 1 Scene 4)

8. Often paraphrased as "Methinks the lady doth protest too much"

"The lady protests too much, methinks." (Gertrude, Act 3 Scene 2)

9. Ironically said in a long speech.

"Brevity is the soul of wit." (Polonius, Act 2 Scene 2)

10. Often paraphrased as "Give every man thy ear, but few thy voice."

"Listen to many, speak to a few." (Polonius, Act 1 Scene 3)

Part 4. The Sublimity of the Infinite
Sublime, indeed, but here at the opposite end of Part 1 on Existence. Why infinite? Hamlet knows not what follows "this mortal coil."

11. So much in so few words. Hamlet understands the fundamental divide between life and an unknown afterlife and still manages to express "ay, there's the rub" and "shuffled off this mortal coil." And all of this just two acts before his death (see 13 below) and as part of the famous "to be or not to be" solioquy.

"To sleep: Perchance to dream: ay, there's the rub;
For in that sleep of death what dreams may come,
When we have shuffled off this mortal coil." (Hamlet, Act 3 Scene 1)

12. Horatio's words to his dying friend. Horatio contemplated suicide but Hamlet's dying wish was for his friend to go on to ensure that their story would be properly understood.

"Goodnight, sweet prince, And flights of angels sing thee to thy rest!" (Horatio, Act 5 Scene 2)

13. Hamlet's last words...

"The rest is silence." (Hamlet, Act 5 Scene 2)

"Get thee to a nunnery." (Hamlet, Act 3 Scene 1)
In Shakespeare's time, a nunnery did not likely mean what it would today.

The seemingly contradictory lines (echoed by Nick Lowe (1979) in "Cruel to be Kind (in the right measure)" both refer to Hamlets desire to express his beliefs on what has transpired (and set the play in motion toward its ultimate tragic ending) to his mother.
"I must be cruel only to be kind; Thus bad begins, and worse remains behind." (Hamlet, Act 3 Scene 4)
"But break, my heart, for I must hold my tongue." (Hamlet, Act 1 Scene 2)