The line most widely regarded as the most quoted from Hamlet is: “To be, or not to be, that is the question.”
Why this line stands out
This opening of Hamlet’s Act 3, Scene 1 soliloquy has become one of the most recognizable lines in all of English literature and is frequently referenced in conversation, books, films, and other media. It is famous because it encapsulates Hamlet’s reflection on existence, suffering, and the choice between enduring life’s hardships or escaping them through death.
Other very famous lines
Several other lines from Hamlet are also extremely well known, such as “Alas, poor Yorick! I knew him, Horatio” and “Something is rotten in the state of Denmark.” However, none of these match the cultural ubiquity and immediate recognizability of “To be, or not to be, that is the question.”
