The Witches

Three voices. They tell the truth in riddles. They never lie. They never help.

The quotes

9 quotes by or about The Witches, in the order they happen.

Fair is foul, and foul is fair

Witches · Act 1, Scene 1 · the supernatural · appearance and reality

Good things are bad. Bad things are good. That is the rule of the play.

When the battle's lost and won

Witches · Act 1, Scene 1 · the supernatural · appearance and reality

A fight can be won and lost at the same time. That is Macbeth's whole story.

Lesser than Macbeth and greater

Witches · Act 1, Scene 3 · fate and free will · the supernatural

The witches tell Banquo he is lower than Macbeth, but higher too. His sons will be kings.

Thou shalt get kings, though thou be none

Witches · Act 1, Scene 3 · fate and free will · kingship

Banquo will never be king. But his children will. Macbeth cannot forget this.

The instruments of darkness tell us truths, Win us with honest trifles, to betray 's In deepest consequence

Banquo · Act 1, Scene 3 · the supernatural · appearance and reality

Banquo sees the trick. The witches tell small true things so you believe one big lie.

Double, double toil and trouble; Fire burn, and cauldron bubble

Witches · Act 4, Scene 1 · the supernatural

The witches' spell. It rhymes. No one else in the play talks like this.

By the pricking of my thumbs, Something wicked this way comes

Witches · Act 4, Scene 1 · the supernatural · appearance and reality

The witches call Macbeth 'something wicked'. He is one of them now.

none of woman born Shall harm Macbeth

Apparition · Act 4, Scene 1 · fate and free will · the supernatural · appearance and reality

No one born from a woman can hurt Macbeth. He feels safe. He should not.

Macbeth shall never vanquished be until Great Birnam Wood to high Dunsinane Hill Shall come against him

Apparition · Act 4, Scene 1 · fate and free will · the supernatural · appearance and reality

A forest cannot walk, so Macbeth thinks he is safe. The army carries branches.