The famous quote, "To be or not to be," was written by William Shakespeare. This line is from his tragic play "Hamlet," spoken by the character Prince Hamlet in a soliloquy that grapples with themes of existence, mortality, and the nature of suffering. The full speech explores Hamlet's contemplation of life and death, weighing the pain of living against the uncertainty of what lies beyond death. This quote has become one of the most recognizable lines in English literature, encapsulating the human experience's existential dilemmas, and continues to resonate with audiences across generations.