Vol. 06 · Misquoted ·Play ·16 of 348
"Alas, poor Yorick, I knew him well."
They never said that.
What people say
"Alas, poor Yorick, I knew him well."
What was actually said
"Alas, poor Yorick! I knew him, Horatio." Hamlet — Hamlet, V.i
Why it stuck
"Knew him well" is what people remember because it's a natural English collocation. Shakespeare's line addresses Horatio directly instead.
Know another line by heart?
Play the duel and see how many you can spot. Or browse the whole shelf.