How much better is it to weep at joy than to joy at weeping!
-- Leonato (Act One paragraph Scene One)

Importance: In this quote, the genre of the play (comedy) is established by the happy events it refers to. It also foreshadows coming events, for Leonato will have the opportunity to both weep and joy in the coming scenes.

As the event stamps them: but they have a goodcover; they show well outward. The prince and CountClaudio, walking in a thick-peached alley in mineorchard, were thus much overheard by a man of mine:the prince discovered to Claudio that he loved myniece your daughter and meant to acknowledge itthis night in a dance: and if he found heraccordant, he meant to take the present time by thetop and instantly break with you of it.
-- Antonio (Act One paragraph Scene Two)

Importance: In this quote, Antonio explains the situation as he believes it is unfolding to his brother Leonato. The confusion that he expresses, as...