Using theatrical quotes can be a welcome addition to your professional presentations. Here are a few to get you started from the Bard himself, William Shakespeare. Remember, creating engagement and connection is a vital part of professional communication skills!

1. 10 Shakespearean Quotes
and
How to Use Them

2. Your content is great.

3. Your content is great.
Seriously, great!

4. You always seem to
find the right words to
convey your message.

5. You always seem to
find the right words to
convey your message.
Know who else was really good at finding the right words?

6. William Shakespeare

7. Theatrical quotes from
can be useful in your
presentations.

8. Theatrical quotes from
Giants of Playwrighting
can be useful in your
presentations.

9. Theatrical quotes from
Giants of Playwrighting
can be useful in your
presentations.
How?

10. You can use them to:





Introduce a new topic
Create interest and connection
Help your audience think in metaphors
Inspire action with expert words about the human
condition
Conclude your presentation with an effective
stinger
Let’s get started!

12. From
Shakespeare…

13. 
“A little more than kin, and less than kind.”
-from Hamlet
Use it when you want to say “this has gotten too close for comfort, and
it’s not good.”

“The lady doth protest too much, methinks.”
-from Hamlet
When someone, or something, is trying too hard to prove they are
telling the truth.

“O Time, thou must untangle this not I/ It is
too hard a knot for me t’untie”
-from Twelfth Night
Presenting a problem that seems insurmountable? Request help with
this quote.

14. 
“From ancient grudge break to new mutiny/
where civil blood makes civil hands unclean.”
– from Romeo and Juliet
Useful when two factions that have long been at odds have
suddenly taken things to a more unpleasant level.

“Oh for a Muse of fire, that would ascend/ the
brightest heaven of invention-”
-from Henry V
When an idea is so great, that you WISH you could find the right words to
describe it.

“Once more unto the breach dear friends,
once more!”
-from Henry V
Inspire your audience to tackle a difficult issue once again.

16. Say “Reputation is an
idle and most false
imposition; oft got
without merit and lost
without deserving.”
(from Othello) when
talking about the
complexities of authenticity
or branding.

17. 
“O! it is excellent/ To have a giant's strength,
but it is tyrannous/ To use it like a giant.”
-from Measure for Measure
Great to talk about corporate responsibility or intra-office relationships.

“Disguise, I see thou art a wickedness,
wherein the pregnant enemy does much”
-from Twelfth Night
Turn to this quote when you need to talk about the importance of
transparency, and the problems created when it is lacking.

18. And Finally…

19. “But man, proud man,
Drest in a little brief authority,
Most ignorant of what he’s most assured,
His glassy essence, like an angry ape,
Plays such fantastic tricks before high heaven
As make the angels weep.”
-from Measure for Measure

20. “But man, proud man,
Drest in a little brief authority,
Most ignorant of what he’s most assured,
His glassy essence, like an angry ape,
Plays such fantastic tricks before high heaven
As make the angels weep.”
-from Measure for Measure
If you need to present a mea culpa for
mistakes that have been made,
especially if they were the result of hubris,
this quote is can help.

21. Thank You!
Find more professional skills
advice on the OC Blog, or
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Exceptional Presentations!