I believe that nothing comes of nothing, even in Shakespeare. I wanted to know where he got the matter he was working with and what he did with that matter.

Quote by Stephen Greenblatt

Topics: Stephen Greenblatt Quotes

I wanted to hold onto and exploit the power of narrative. This is not only...

I wanted to hold onto and exploit the power of narrative. This is not only...

The Shakespeare that Shakespeare became is the name that's attached to these astonishing objects that...

The Shakespeare that Shakespeare became is the name that's attached to these astonishing objects that...

But if Shakespeare himself is maybe about meaning and truth, I don't know, then he...

But if Shakespeare himself is maybe about meaning and truth, I don't know, then he...

I'm not spitting in my own soup, I love having spent my life thinking about...

I'm not spitting in my own soup, I love having spent my life thinking about...

But I never listen to music while I'm writing.

But I never listen to music while I'm writing.

Well it is certainly the case that the poems - which were in fact published...

Well it is certainly the case that the poems - which were in fact published...

What we know is that Shakespeare wrote perhaps the most remarkable body of passionate love...

What we know is that Shakespeare wrote perhaps the most remarkable body of passionate love...

It is not that Shakespeare's art is in technicolor and fancy, and that real life...

It is not that Shakespeare's art is in technicolor and fancy, and that real life...

I believe in broken, fractured, complicated narratives, but I believe in narratives as a vehicle...

$I believe in broken, fractured, complicated narratives, but I believe in narratives as a vehicle...$

I believe that it is a whole lifetime of work on Shakespeare's part that enabled...

I believe that it is a whole lifetime of work on Shakespeare's part that enabled...

I've been at this for 40 years. And, as an academic, I've been content with...

I've been at this for 40 years. And, as an academic, I've been content with...

No special writing rituals. And my desk is usually cluttered.

No special writing rituals. And my desk is usually cluttered.

My father who in this case was an obsessive life-long storyteller, and by a very...

My father who in this case was an obsessive life-long storyteller, and by a very...

I think the writing of literature should give pleasure. What else should it be about?...

I think the writing of literature should give pleasure. What else should it be about?...

First of all, there was a volcano of words, an eruption of words that Shakespeare...

First of all, there was a volcano of words, an eruption of words that Shakespeare...

What I wanted to do was to get that sense of being in touch with...

What I wanted to do was to get that sense of being in touch with...

Now a Protestant confronting a Catholic ghost is exactly Shakespeare's way of grappling with what...

Now a Protestant confronting a Catholic ghost is exactly Shakespeare's way of grappling with what...

What matters here are the works - finally without them his life would be uninteresting....

What matters here are the works - finally without them his life would be uninteresting....

First of all, Shakespeare is about pleasure and interest. He was from the first moment...

First of all, Shakespeare is about pleasure and interest. He was from the first moment...