1. His ability to think deeply and analyze situations:
- "To be, or not to be: that is the question." (Act 3, Scene 1)
- "Thus conscience does make cowards of us all." (Act 3, Scene 1)
- "There is nothing either good or bad, but thinking makes it so." (Act 2, Scene 2)
2. His wit and wordplay:
- "A knavish speech sleeps in a fool's ear." (Act 1, Scene 5)
- "The lady doth protest too much, methinks." (Act 3, Scene 2)
- "More matter, with less art." (Act 2, Scene 2)
3. His knowledge of philosophy and literature:
- "What a piece of work is a man! How noble in reason, how infinite in faculties!" (Act 2, Scene 2)
- "Doubt thou the stars are fire; doubt that the sun doth move; Doubt truth to be a liar; but never doubt I love." (Act 2, Scene 2)
- "To what base uses we may return, Horatio! Why may not imagination trace the noble dust of Alexander till he find it stopping a bung-hole?" (Act 5, Scene 1)
4. His ability to manipulate and deceive others:
- "It is most retrograde to our desire." (Act 3, Scene 2)
- "The play's the thing wherein I'll catch the conscience of the king." (Act 2, Scene 2)
- "I am but mad north-north-west: when the wind is southerly, I know a hawk from a handsaw." (Act 2, Scene 2)
These quotes demonstrate Hamlet's quick wit, deep thinking, and knowledge of philosophy and literature, all of which point to his high intelligence and intellectual abilities.