English Literature CLEP Prep 2025 – 400 Free Practice Questions to Pass the Exam

This proverb is often attributed to William Shakespeare, a famous English playwright and poet. It is derived from a line spoken by the character Polonius in Shakespeare's play, Hamlet. While the other options are also famous writers, they did not write or speak this particular proverb. Emily Dickinson was an American poet known for her concise and precise writing style, but she did not write this specific phrase. Oscar Wilde was an Irish poet and playwright known for his witty and humorous writing, but he did not write this proverb either. Edgar Allan Poe was an American writer known for his dark and macabre tales, but he also did not write this proverb. Therefore, A is the correct answer as it is the option that is directly linked to the origin of this proverb.