to be or not to be

The phrase "to be or not to be" comes from William Shakespeare's play Hamlet. It is the opening line of a soliloquy delivered by the play's protagonist, Prince Hamlet. He is contemplating the pros and cons of existence, pondering whether it is better to continue living ("to be") or to end one's life ("not to be"). The soliloquy explores themes of mortality, the afterlife, and the burdens of life's hardships. The phrase has since become famous and is often quoted as a representation of existential questioning or a contemplation of life's meaning.