- "To be or not to be, that is the question" (Hamlet by William Shakespeare): alludes to the existential contemplation of life and death.
- "It was the best of times, it was the worst of times" (A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens): refers to the contradictory nature of the French Revolution.
- "The road to hell is paved with good intentions" (Various sources): cites a proverb emphasizing that unintended negative consequences can result from actions with positive motivations.
Allusions in Movies:
- "Frankly, my dear, I don't give a damn" (Gone with the Wind): Rhett Butler's iconic line alludes to the phrase "Frankly, my dear, I don't care" from the play "Gone with the Wind."
- "My name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die" (The Princess Bride): Inigo's famous line is an allusion to Alexandre Dumas' novel "The Count of Monte Cristo," where the protagonist also introduces himself with a similar declaration of vengeance.
- "You'll shoot your eye out, kid" (A Christmas Story): Ralphie's mother's warning to her son is a quote from the short story "Red Ryder Nails the Corpse" by Jean Shepherd, which the film is based on.