Screw your courage to the sticking-place.

What it means

Lady Macbeth says it to push her husband toward murder, so the context is dark. The image is of tightening a bowstring until it holds. Once you have decided, lock it in.

The source

"Screw your courage to the sticking-place." Shakespeare said it in Macbeth 1.7. Written in English: Complete Works, Project Gutenberg #100.

"But screw your courage to the sticking-place, And we’ll not fail."

Original English (Complete Works, Project Gutenberg #100), Macbeth 1.7. Text read at gutenberg.org.

Who said it

Shakespeare (1564–1616). The playwright and poet of Stratford and the Globe. His characters still say the things we feel and cannot put into words.

Questions

What does "Screw your courage to the sticking-place." mean?

Lady Macbeth says it to push her husband toward murder, so the context is dark. The image is of tightening a bowstring until it holds. Once you have decided, lock it in.

Who said "Screw your courage to the sticking-place."?

Shakespeare (1564–1616). Source: Macbeth 1.7.

What is the original wording?

But screw your courage to the sticking-place, And we’ll not fail (Original English (Complete Works, Project Gutenberg #100)). Written in English: Complete Works, Project Gutenberg #100.

Is "Screw your courage to the sticking-place." on a shirt?

Yes. We print it to order on our tees in 7 illustrated looks, from $44, with free US shipping.

"Screw your courage to the sticking-place." (Shakespeare, Macbeth 1.7, trans. Original English (Complete Works, Project Gutenberg #100)). https://spartansurfers.com/quotes/screw-your-courage-to-the-sticking-place