On the Internet, the text attributed to the English playwright is popular about how to live a happy life. We decided to check if he wrote something like that.

The completely viral text sounds like this: “I always feel happy. Do you know why? Because I'm not expecting anything from anyone. Expectations are always pain. Life is short. So love your life. Be happy. And smile. Before talking, listen. Before you write, think. Before spending money, earn. Before praying, goodbye. Before you hurt, feel it. Before hating, love. Before dying, live. ” This statement indicating the authorship of William Shakespeare can be found on sites with quotes And aphorisms, entertainment portals, in social networks ("VKontakte" Facebook*, Instagram*) and on the blog-platforms (Livejournal, "Picabu","Zen").

This recommendation on how to live life happily, Popular Not only in Russian, but also on English - The native language of Shakespeare. In the English -language version, the phrase sounds like this: “I always feat happy. You Know Who? Because I Don’t EXPECT ANYTHING FROM ANYONE. Expectations Always Hurt. Life is short. So Love Your Life. Be happy. & Keep smiling. Just Live for Yourself & Before You Speak, Listen. Before You Write, Think. Before You Spend, Earn. Before You Pray, Forgive. Before You Hurt, Feel. Before You Hate, Love. Before You Quit, Try. Before You Die, Live. " However, those who have at least once read Shakespeare in the original, easily notice the difference - during the life of the playwright, English was somewhat different from the modern one.

Although over the four centuries that have passed since Shakespeare's death, his literary heritage was well studied and digitized, “verified” could not find such a quote in any authoritative source. It is not mentioned on the site Folger libraries - The world's largest collection of texts of Shakespeare, in Shakespeare's electronic archivecollected by specialists of the Massachusetts Technological Institute, or on the website of the charity organization SHAKESPEARE BIRTHPLACE TRUST, storing, by words Its employees, the world's largest public library and archive of sources that came out of the pen of the playwright or dedicated to him.

FACHECHERS FROM POLITIFACT project Turned To the experts of the Folger library with the question of whether Shakespeare ever wrote something like that. Researcher and librarian Abby Weinberg replied that this is definitely not Shakespeare: in style the phrase is not like the work of the playwright, and she does not understand how, in principle, he could ascribe this text. Australian Associated Press (AAP) factor Turned To the researchers of the work of the playwright from Australian universities - they also did not confirm Shakespeare's connection with the advice of a happy life. AAP journalists also indicate that at least part of the quote was taken from poems American writer William Arthur Ward.

Thus, Shakespeare has nothing to do with the text attributed to him about happiness. Specialists in the work of the playwright deny that in his works there are such or similar thoughts. But a very close phrase was found in the text of another writer who lived three centuries later than Shakespeare.

*The Russian authorities consider Meta Platforms Inc., which owns social networks Facebook and Instagram, an extremist organization, its activities in Russia are prohibited.

Photo on the cover: Attributed to John TaylorPublic Domain, Via Wikimedia Commons