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About this quote

What does it mean?
Shakespeare's life is mysterious and his plays are all we know.
In plain terms
We know his work but not his life.
What can you take from it?
Art often speaks louder than biography.

Where it applies

  • academic research
  • biography writing

Putting it to work

  • literary study

Questions to consider

  • Should we read the life with the work?

Another view

It ignores the biographical evidence that does exist.

More from William Shakespeare

  1. At once it struck me, what quality went to form a Man of Achievement especially in Literature & which Shakespeare posessed so enormously - I mean Negative Capa…

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  2. Shakespeare is not our poet, but the world's; Therefore on him no speech!

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  3. He has left nothing to say about nothing or any thing.

    Permalink to quote #44

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