shakespeare quotes?

Question

i want the meaning of following quotes
1. frailty, thy is woman
2. brevity is the soul of wit
3. sweet are the uses of adversity
4. there is a tide in the affairs of men which taken at the flood leads on to fortune

Answer 1

1. "Fraility, thy name is woman." is the actual quote. In context, the quote is suggesting that women are weak-willed and easily manipulated. Hamlet says it in reference to his mother.
2. This is advice, given by Polonius to Leartes in Hamlet, essentially says that the key to making an intellegent point is to keep it brief. It's also intended to be funny, because he's warning his son to not be too wordy, but the speech that the quote is from is very, very long.
3. In the passage that this quote is from (As You Like It), the Duke is commenting about the virtues of life in the country versus the deception at court. The full line is- " Sweet are the uses of adversity, Which, like the toad, ugly and venomous, Wears yet a precious jewel in his head." He's saying that the troubles that have befallen them (exile) are blessings, in that no longer will he have to listen to flatteries and lies, or be tied up in plots and intrigues.
4. This quote, from Julius Caesar, means that if you take advantage of a good situation, you will reap the rewards. The quote goes on to say- "Omitted, all the voyage of their life Is bound in shallows and in miseries", meaning that if you let good fortune pass you by, you will suffer the consequences of your inaction.

Answer 2

1. women are generally frail...very nasty thing to say really, and not accurate.
2. to be funny, keep it brief. The more you try to explain it, the less witty it becomes.
3. troubles can benefit a person.
4. Strike while the iron is hot...there is a right time to do things that will lead to good fortune. There are always ebbs and flows--time the flows.

Answer 3

Go to Borders or another book store and get yourself some Clifnotes. They should explain the meanings.