Iago Quotes

RODERIGO: Thou told’st me thou didst hold him in thy hate.
IAGO: Despise me, if I do not. Three great ones of the city,
In personal suit to make me his lieutenant,
Off-capp’d to him: and, by the faith of man,
I know my price, I am worth no worse a place:
But he; as loving his own pride and purposes,
Evades them, with a bombast circumstance
Horribly stuff’d with epithets of war.

– William Shakespeare

Othello, Act 1, Scene 1. Iago confides to Roderigo how he hates Othello after three powerful men failed in their pleas to Othello to make Iago his lieutenant. Feeling wronged by a prideful Othello who promotes Cassio instead, Iago’s resentment and jealousy set the tone for the rest of the play. Foreshadowed here is his plot to exact vengeance and destroy Othello.

Forsooth, a great arithmetician,
One Michael Cassio, a Florentine,
A fellow almost damn’d in a fair wife;
That never set a squadron in the field,
Nor the division of a battle knows
More than a spinster.

– William Shakespeare

Othello, Act 1, Scene 1. The play’s main antagonist and arch-villain Iago shows his intense jealousy of army rival Cassio. He rubbishes Cassio’s theoretical knowledge of war and belittles his lack of battle experience equalling it in a metaphor to that of a spinster. Iago’s sexism is evident here, as he mocks Cassio for being cursed with a beautiful wife, suggesting attractive wives are a source of trouble for husbands and may be unfaithful.

He, in good time, must his lieutenant be,
And I – God bless the mark! – his Moorship’s ancient.

– William Shakespeare

Othello, Act 1, Scene 1. Iago’s jealousy is on full display in his remarks about Cassio being promoted to Othello’s lieutenant, while Iago merely has the rank of "ancient" or flag-bearer. The racist attitude of Iago towards the black Moor Othello is evident in how he sarcastically and mockingly refers to him as "his Moorship," highlighting his race. This phrase is a pun on "his worship."

‘Tis the curse of service,
Preferment goes by letter and affection,
And not by old gradation, where each second
Stood heir to the first. Now, sir, be judge yourself,
Whether I in any just term am affined
To love the Moor.

– William Shakespeare

Othello, Act 1, Scene 1. Iago tells Roderigo that army promotions are decided on the basis of recommendation and favoritism, not by seniority or experience. Showing his jealousy, Iago believes that Cassio got the officer’s position he coveted because of his connections. He makes clear that he is not following Othello out of any loyalty or love for him.

Others there are
Who, trimm’d in forms and visages of duty,
Keep yet their hearts attending on themselves,
And, throwing but shows of service on their lords,
Do well thrive by them and when they have lined their coats
Do themselves homage: these fellows have some soul;
And such a one do I profess myself.

– William Shakespeare

Othello, Act 1, Scene 1. Iago provides us with a glimpse into his own parasitic soul and duplicitous nature in this revealing speech to Roderigo. He admits to being the kind of servant who puts on a false show of loyalty and duty to his master, so that he can thrive on the coattails of Othello’s power, success and prestige. And when the two-faced Iago has taken what he wants from the master-servant relationship, he will use it to further his own self-interest. Iago has a perverted view of what homage or honor is, arguing that it an honorable to be dishonorable to your master if it personally benefits you.

It is as sure as you are Roderigo,
Were I the Moor I would not be Iago.
In following him, I follow but myself.
Heaven is my judge, not I for love and duty,
But seeming so for my peculiar end.

– William Shakespeare

Othello, Act 1, Scene 1. Iago shows his jealousy of Othello and his position in Venetian society as general of the army. He reveals how two-faced he is, admitting that he will follow Othello, not out of love or loyalty, but simply to serve his own purpose. Incensed that Cassio has been promoted over him by Othello, Iago acts as Othello’s friend so that he can take advantage of him when the opportunity arises.

For when my outward action doth demonstrate
The native act and figure of my heart
In complement extern, ’tis not long after
But I will wear my heart upon my sleeve
For daws to peck at: I am not what I am.

– William Shakespeare

Othello, Act 1, Scene 1. Iago reveals his deceitful nature to Roderigo. Confessing he is not the man he pretends to be, he never openly displays his true emotions for others to see. Otherwise he would leave his heart vulnerable for "daws" (foolish jackdaws or humans) to pick at. A fascinating and sinister character and the villain of the play, what you see is not what you get with Iago. Ironically when Iago speaks about his dishonest nature – "I am not what I am" – he is speaking the truth. This line is an allusion to a quote from Exodus 3:14, where Moses asks God is name and Gods says: "I am that I am." What is suggested here is that Iago is something of a diabolical figure and the opposite of God. Iago also provides us with the idiom "wear my heart upon my sleeve," a metaphor for openly showing your true feelings and emotions This is something he prefers to keep hidden from others. Iago remains one of Shakespeare’s most interesting villains.

Call up her father,
Rouse him: make after him, poison his delight,
Proclaim him in the streets; incense her kinsmen,
And, though he in a fertile climate dwell,
Plague him with flies: though that his joy be joy,
Yet throw such changes of vexation on ‘t,
As it may lose some colour.

– William Shakespeare

Othello, Act 1, Scene 1. In his bid to ruin Othello, a vindictive Iago hatches a malevolent plan to recruit the easily manipulable Roderigo to do his dirty work for him. He incites Roderigo to wake up Desdemona’s father in order to destroy Othello’s marital bliss and enrage her family by shouting in the streets about the pair’s secret marriage. Iago’s use of poison and plague imagery and metaphor associates him with corruption and disease and foreshadows how he will poison Othello’s mind in Act 3. His racism is also suggested in his wish that the black Othello’s joy will "lose some colour."

Awake! what, ho, Brabantio! thieves! thieves! thieves!
Look to your house, your daughter and your bags!

– William Shakespeare

Othello, Act 1, Scene 1. Iago, accompanied by Roderigo, shouts from the street outside Brabantio’s house to awaken the Venetian Senator to the fact that he has been robbed. Using a metaphor, he likens Othello to a thief who has stolen Brabantio’s daughter Desdemona. Iago describes Desdemona like she were some sort of possession or item of property owned by Brabantio. This reflects the lack of respect that Iago has for women in general.
Iago old black ram quote about Othello

Even now, now, very now, an old black ram
Is tupping your white ewe.

– William Shakespeare

Othello, Act 1, Scene 1. Shakespeare’s most notorious villains Iago is a manipulative, sinister and destructive character. He uses an inflammatory animal and racist metaphor to compare Othello to a "black ram," and another metaphor to describe Desdemona as a "white ewe." Iago is shouting this to Desdemona’s father Brabantio in order to incite his rage against Othello. He dehumanizes the black Othello and portrays the match between him and the white or pure Desdemona as something unnatural. “Tupping” is an old English slang word for having sex, and Iago uses it here to convey something dirty and vulgar. Iago also sees Desdemona as Brabantio’s property – "your white ewe" – which is in keeping with Iago’s sexism and low regard for women. Iago’s hatred of Othello is evident here.

Arise, arise;
Awake the snorting citizens with the bell,
Or else the devil will make a grandsire of you.

– William Shakespeare

Othello, Act 1, Scene 1. Iago shouts this out in the street at night in front of Brabantio’s house. Using a metaphor, he suggests to Brabantio that the "devil" Othello will make his daughter Desdemona pregnant, so that Brabantio will be grandfather to an evil devil child. The malevolent Iago is displaying his racial prejudice here, as he attempts to whip up a father’s anger against his daughter’s elopement with the black Othello.

Zounds, sir, you are one of those that will not serve God, if the devil bid you. Because we come to do you service and you think we are ruffians, you’ll have your daughter covered with a Barbary horse; you’ll have your nephews neigh to you; you’ll have coursers for cousins and gennets for germans.

– William Shakespeare

Othello, Act 1, Scene 1. Brabantio appears at his window to hear a voice shouting up to him from the dark below. It is Iago, hidden in the shadows, using racist language and a vulgar and insulting animal metaphor to tell him that his daughter Desdemona is being ravished by a "Barbary horse" – Othello. The Barbary horse is a North Africal breed of horse. Master maniplator Iago, in his bid to set Brabantio against Othello, warns that Brabantio’s grandsons will be beasts too.

And spoke such scurvy and provoking terms
Against your honour
That, with the little godliness I have,
I did full hard forbear him.

– William Shakespeare

Othello, Act 1, Scene 2. Iago tells Othello that Brabantio insulted the general’s honor and he had to restrain himself from hurting Brabantio. Iago is of course lying because he is trying to manipulate and provoke Othello into attacking Brabantio. A two-faced Iago puts on the appearance of loyalty to Othello, when we know that he has nothing but hatred for him. Othello appears not to see through the facade Iago hides behind, setting himself up for a tragic downfall. It is ironic for Iago to speak of his "godliness," when we know that he is a villain with no morals.

That the magnifico is much beloved,
And hath in his effect a voice potential
As double as the Duke’s. He will divorce you
Or put upon you what restraint or grievance
The law, with all his might to enforce it on,
Will give him cable.

– William Shakespeare

Othello, Act 1, Scene 2. Iago advises Othello that the powerful Venetian Senator Brabantio can use his considerable influence to force him and Desdemona to divorce. The master puppeteer and manipulator is putting on a show of sympathy for Othello in order to gain his trust.

Faith, he to-night hath boarded a land carack:
If it prove lawful prize, he’s made for ever.

– William Shakespeare

Othello, Act 1, Scene 2. Iago makes a crude joke when he likens the sexual union of Othello and Desdemona to him boarding a large merchant ship to seize his prize. This coarse metaphor paints Othello as some kind of pirate who has stolen Desdemona, like she were some kind of valuable property or treasure. "Land carack" also has a double meaning and was a slang term for prostitute.

Ere I would say, I would drown myself for the love of a guinea-hen, I would change my humanity with a baboon.

– William Shakespeare

Othello, Act 1, Scene 3. Love is a concept that is alien to Iago. This is seen in his cynical and misogynistic response to Roderigo, who has threatened suicide over Desdemona’s marriage to Othello. Iago uses crude animal imagery, saying that he would rather be a baboon than drown himself for the sake of a woman. Guinea hen in Shakespearean times was another term for a prostitute, which is how Iago sees women in general.

Virtue? A fig!…Our bodies are our gardens, to the which our wills are gardeners: so that if we will plant nettles, or sow lettuce, set hyssop and weed up thyme, supply it with one gender of herbs, or distract it with many, either to have it sterile with idleness, or manured with industry, why, the power and corrigible authority of this lies in our wills.

– William Shakespeare

Othello, Act 1, Scene 3. Iago is dismissive and disapproving of virtue. He doesn’t believe that the character qualities of a person are inherent. Using a garden metaphor, he explains that our will controls our emotions and behavior. He is giving advice to a lovelorn Roderigo, who thinks that suicide may be the solution to his unanswered love for Desdemona. In Iago’s speech on self-control, he is telling Roderigo that he has power over his emotions and not to let them get the better of him.

If the balance of our lives had not one scale of reason to poise another of sensuality, the blood and baseness of our natures would conduct us to most preposterous conclusions: but we have reason to cool our raging motions, our carnal stings, our unbitted lusts, whereof I take this that you call love to be a sect or scion.

– William Shakespeare

Othello, Act 1, Scene 3. Iago offers this cynical definition of love: it is simply an offshoot – "sect or scion" – of lust. He is responding to Roderigo’s threat of suicide over his unrequited love for Desdemona. He tells the depressed Roderigo that if we didn’t have reason, our passions and emotions would bring havoc to our lives. That is why we have reason to control our raging passions and impulses.

Come, be a man. Drown thyself! drown cats and blind puppies. I have professed me thy friend and I confess me knit to thy deserving with cables of perdurable toughness; I could never better stead thee than now. Put money in thy purse.

– William Shakespeare

Othello, Act 1, Scene 3. Iago appears to care for Roderigo and be his friend. He offers advice after Roderigo’s talk of drowning himself over his unrequited love for Desdemona. He urges Roderigo to be a man and says that drowning is for cats and blind puppies, not for a man like him. Iago in a metaphor compares their bond of friendship to indestructable cables that knit them together. He advises Roderigo to get some money and follow the army to Cyprus, forecasting that the love between Othello and Desdemona will not last long. The reality is that masterful manipulator Iago is using Roderigo as part of his plan to exact revenge on Othello and also to get Roderigo’s money for himself.

The food that to him now is as luscious as locusts, shall be to him shortly as bitter as coloquintida. She must change for youth: when she is sated with his body, she will find the error of her choice: she must have change, she must.

– William Shakespeare

Othello, Act 1, Scene 3. In a metaphor Iago compares Desdemona to food, and uses similes to say that while she is as delicious as locusts to Othello now she will soon taste like sour fruit to him. The unappealing fruit of the coloquintida plant was used as a purgative. Iago lets his misogynistic attitude show in his view of women as sexual food for consumption by men. He sees Othello and Desdemona’s love as merely lust, predicting that when she has had enough of his body she will seek a younger man.

Make all the money thou canst: if sanctimony and a frail vow betwixt an erring barbarian and a supersubtle Venetian not too hard for my wits and all the tribe of hell, thou shalt enjoy her; therefore make money.

– William Shakespeare

Othello, Act 1, Scene 3. Iago offers this advice to Roderigo on how to win Desdemona. He urges him to gather all the money he can so that he can effectively buy her. He uses racist language when he speaks of the frailty of the marriage vows between her and "barbarian" Othello. His sexist view of women as men’s sexual playthings is shown when he predicts that Roderigo will "enjoy her" – have sex with Desdemona. In this passage Iago identifies himself with "all the tribe of hell," practically admitting that he is demonic.

Thou art sure of me: – go, make money: – I have told thee often, and I re-tell thee again and again, I hate the Moor: my cause is hearted; thine hath no less reason. Let us be conjunctive in our revenge against him: if thou canst cuckold him, thou dost thyself a pleasure, me a sport. There are many events in the womb of time which will be delivered.

– William Shakespeare

Othello, Act 1, Scene 3. Iago responds to Roderigo’s question as to whether he can trust him. Assuring him that he can, he reiterates his hatred for Othello. Like a puppet master Iago pulls Roderigo’s strings to entice him to be his partner in crime in his revenge plot against Othello and Cassio. He grooms the weak and simple-minded Roderigo, luring him with promises of a future and sexual fulfillment with his heart’s desire Desdemona. In a metaphor, Iago compares time to a womb which will deliver these promises.
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