In the opening scene of King Lear, at the climax of the rhetorical contest for the old king's affection, an argument about nothing sets the tragedy in motion:

1. LEAR. what can you say to draw

2. A third more opulent than your sisters'? Speak.

3. CORDELIA. Nothing.

4. LEAR. Nothing?

5. CORDELIA. Nothing.

6. LEAR. Nothing will come of nothing, speak again.

Lear's retort plays on a familiar axiom in classical philosophy, ex nihilo nihil fit, ‘nothing comes of nothing’. The quibble depends on a change of tense: ‘nothing comes of nothing’ is a proposition about the nature of reality; ‘nothing will come of nothing’ means ‘if you remain silent I won't give you anything’. Lear may think he is being clever, but there are other sides to ‘nothing’, relentlessly revealed to him by the Fool, for whom this word becomes a mocking catchphrase:

1. KENT. This is nothing, Fool.

2. FOOL. Then 'tis like the breath of an unfee'd lawyer, you gave me nothing for't.

3. Can you make no use of nothing, nuncle?

4. LEAR. Why, no, boy, nothing can be made out of nothing.

5. FOOL. (To Kent.) Prithee tell him, so much the rent of his land comes to. He will not believe a fool.

This exchange tells us incidentally that Lear is perfectly aware of the correct philosophical formula; he has forgotten the twist he gave it earlier, though the Fool of course has not.