Iago Quotes

Utter my thoughts? Why, say they are vile and false;
As where’s that palace whereinto foul things
Sometimes intrude not? who has a breast so pure,
But some uncleanly apprehensions
Keep leets and law-days and in session sit
With meditations lawful?

– William Shakespeare

Othello, Act 3, Scene 3. Iago, the ultimate master of the art of manipulation, says this to Othello when he demands that Iago reveal his thoughts. Hesitating to speak them openly, Iago claims to worry that what he is thinking (about Cassio’s improper behavior with Desdemona) might be "vile and false." Ironically his thoughts are just that, nothing but a fabrication. Iago is using evasion, pretence of modesty and power of suggestion to make his lies appear credible to a gullible Othello.

It is my nature’s plague
To spy into abuses, and oft my jealousy
Shapes faults that are not.

– William Shakespeare

Othello, Act 3, Scene 3. After delivering a number of innuendoes about Cassio and Desdemona, Iago cunningly speaks of his own faults to Othello. This is so that he will appear more genuine and seem like an honest friend. Admitting to being a jealous person, he says that this makes him suspicious of everything and finding faults where they don’t exist. Iago is using psychological trickery to get Othello to trust him, one of the tools he employs to manipulate people. The phrase "nature’s plague" is a metaphor for jealousy.

Good name in man and woman, dear my lord,
Is the immediate jewel of their souls:
Who steals my purse steals trash; ’tis something, nothing;
‘Twas mine, ’tis his, and has been slave to thousands;
But he that filches from me my good name
Robs me of that which not enriches him
And makes me poor indeed.

– William Shakespeare

Othello, Act 3, Scene 3. In an extended metaphor, Iago warns Othello of the importance of reputation. He compares a person’s good name to a precious jewel, invaluable to its owner and more important than money. He is trying to manipulate Othello in a bid to convince him of the paramount importance of his reputation and honor. Iago’s words are ironic, since he is on a mission to destroy the reputation and honor of Othello, Desdemona and Cassio.

Poor and content is rich and rich enough,
But riches fineless is as poor as winter
To him that ever fears he shall be poor.
Good heaven, the souls of all my tribe defend
From jealousy!

– William Shakespeare

Othello, Act 3, Scene 3. Iago tells Othello that if you are poor and happy, you are rich. But if you are rich and always fear losing your riches, then you are poor. Iago is alluding to Othello’s jealousy, something he has put into Othello’s head. There is much irony here, as Iago adopts a consoling tone while as the same time inciting Othello’s jealousy over his wife. A simile is used to compare poverty with winter.

Not to affect many proposed matches
Of her own clime, complexion, and degree,
Whereto we see in all things nature tends –
Foh! one may smell in such a will most rank,
Foul disproportion thoughts unnatural.

– William Shakespeare

Othello, Act 3, Scene 3. Iago questions Desdemona’s decision to marry a black foreigner like Othello as something unnatural. She went against her nature by rejecting young men of her own country, her skin color and status, he claims. Iago suggests that this is a sign of Desdemona’s dark and unnatural thoughts. Speaking to Othello, he is playing on his insecurities as a black Moor married to a white Italian woman.

If it be not for some purpose of import,
Give ‘t me again: poor lady, she’ll run mad
When she shall lack it.

– William Shakespeare

Othello, Act 3, Scene 3. When Iago snatches Desdemona’s handkerchief from Emilia, she says that Desdemona will become very upset because it is gone and demands it back from Iago. She is aware of the symbolic love bond that the handkerchief represents between Othello and Desdemona. But Iago doesn’t return the handkerchief to Emilia, instead bidding her go and saying that he has use for it. Emilia unknowingly plays a role in Iago’s plan to bring about the downfall of Othello and the people she loves. Desdemona’s anxiety and upset in the next scene when Othello asks for the missing handkerchief is foreshadowed here.

I will in Cassio’s lodging lose this napkin,
And let him find it. Trifles light as air
Are to the jealous confirmations strong
As proofs of holy writ. This may do something.

– William Shakespeare

Othello, Act 3, Scene 3. Iago reveals his plan to plant an incriminating handkerchief belonging to Desdemona in Cassio’s lodging. In one of two similes Iago compares the lightness of the handkerchief to that of air. In another simile he says that an insignificant-like handkerchief is seen by the jealous as biblical "proofs of holy writ." Iago plans to further ignite Othello’s already smouldering jealousy.

Dangerous conceits are, in their natures, poisons.
Which at the first are scarce found to distaste,
But with a little act upon the blood.
Burn like the mines of Sulphur.

– William Shakespeare

Othello, Act 3, Scene 3. Having weaponized the corrosive power of jealousy to poison Othello’s mind with suspicious thoughts, a gleeful Iago delights in the pain he is causing. Using metaphor and simile, he speaks of Othello’s suspicions and excessive pride – "dangerous conceits" – as a poison that will burn inside him like sulphur. The Machiavellian manipulator uses demonic language here, "mines of Sulphur" being an allusion to hellfire. His hatred of his master is evident here.

O grace! O heaven forgive me!
Are you a man? have you a soul or sense?
God be wi’ you; take mine office. O wretched fool.
That livest to make thine honesty a vice!
O monstrous world! Take note, take note, O world
To be direct and honest is not safe.

– William Shakespeare

Othello, Act 3, Scene 3. When Othello threatens death and damnation over Iago’s suggestions about Desdemona’s infidelity, Iago goes straight into full manipulation and deception mode. Calling on heaven to forgive him, the devilish Iago questions Othello’s manhood. He feigns surprise at Othello’s reaction, pretends to quit as his lieutenant, and plays victim by saying it is dangerous to be honest. It is ironic of Iago to claim he is "direct and honest" to Othello when he is lying about Desdemona’s cheating.

I should be wise, for honesty’s a fool
And loses that it works for.

– William Shakespeare

Othello, Act 3, Scene 3. Iago declares that his honesty is foolish because it makes him lose friends. He cleverly puts this guilt trip on Othello who has threatened Iago with death if he cannot provide proof of Desdemona’s infidelity. Iago wants to make Othello feel bad by playing the role of victim himself. This is dramatic irony, Iago having already shown himself to be far from honest and a deceiver and liar.

Would you, the supervisor, grossly gape on –
Behold her topp’d?

– William Shakespeare

Othello, Act 3, Scene 3. Iago uses crude language and vivid sexual imagery to place the image of Desdemona sleeping with another man in Othello’s mind. It is part of Iago’s pattern of manipulation to torment Othello, making him suffer the pangs of jealousy and provoking him to anger and violence. Iago’s vulgar description of Desdemona having sex is a replay of his equally coarse comment to Brabantio in the opening scene: "an old black ram Is topping your white ewe."

It is impossible you should see this,
Were they as prime as goats, as hot as monkeys,
As salt as wolves in pride, and fools as gross
As ignorance made drunk.

– William Shakespeare

Othello, Act 3, Scene 3. Iago uses vivid bestial imagery to fuel Othello’s imagination and anger, as he tricks him into thinking that his wife is having sexual intercourse with Cassio. After Othello demands proof of his suspicions, Iago in a series of crude similes compares the copulating Cassio and Desdemona to a pair of lustful fornicating animals.

OTHELLO: Give me a living reason she’s disloyal.
IAGO: I lay with Cassio lately;
And, being troubled with a raging tooth,
I could not sleep. There are a kind of men
So loose of soul that in their sleeps will mutter
Their affairs. One of this kind is Cassio.
In sleep I heard him say "Sweet Desdemona,
Let us be wary, let us hide our loves."

– William Shakespeare

Othello, Act 3, Scene 3. Iago invents a lie to inflame Othello’s jealousy over Desdemona, when Othello asks for proof of her disloyalty. Iago falsely claims that as he and Cassio shared a bed one night, Cassio called out in his sleep, addressed his "sweet Desdemona" and pleaded with her to keep their love affair a secret.

And then, sir, would he gripe and wring my hand,
Cry "O sweet creature!" and then kiss me hard,
As if he pluck’d up kisses by the roots
That grew upon my lips.

– William Shakespeare

Othello, Act 3, Scene 3. Iago uses a plant simile to describe how a sleeping Cassio mistook him for Desdemona and kissed him hard on the lips. It was as if the kisses grew on Iago’s lips and Cassio plucked them up by the roots, Iago tells Roderigo. Iago uses graphic detail to help reinforce the lie that Cassio and Desdemona are having an affair.

Nay, but be wise: yet we see nothing done;
She may be honest yet. Tell me but this,
Have you not sometimes seen a handkerchief
Spotted with strawberries in your wife’s hand?

– William Shakespeare

Othello, Act 3, Scene 3. Iago’s handkerchief plot gets under way. He plants the seeds of suspicion in Othello’s mind about the handkerchief he gifted to Desdemona symbolizing their love. Having come into possession of the item, Iago intends to plant it in Cassio’s lodgings to frame him and Desdemona for adultery.

Patience, I say; your mind perhaps may change.

– William Shakespeare

Othello, Act 3, Scene 3. After convincing Othello that his wife is having an affair with Cassio, Iago tries to appear like a voice of reason. He urges Othello not to rush to judgement about Desdemona and Cassio and seems to suggest that murder may not be the right course. But in reality Othello is acting and feeling exactly as Iago planned, blinded with rage and vowing to take bloody revenge. The manipulative Iago is using reverse psychology here. In actuality he is encouraging Othello to follow through with his revenge. Iago wants Othello to think that he came to the conclusion by himself about the "affair," so that he will avoid any blame.
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