"A beggar's book outworths a noble's blood," wrote William Shakespeare, one of the most celebrated and influential English-language playwrights of all time.

As a worldwide celebration to promote the enjoyment of books and reading, the UNESCO-designated World Book and Copyright Day is observed annually on April 23rd to "recognize the scope of books – a link between the past and the future, a bridge between generations and across cultures." This symbolic date in world literature was considered "a natural choice" for UNESCO, since it marks the anniversary of the deaths of several prominent authors, including the "Bard of Avon," the poetic title bestowed on William Shakespeare.

Over four centuries have passed since the death of this great British playwright who penned "To be or not to be?" – the famous question that has passed over the lips of every actor playing Hamlet on stage across the globe – and the legacy that he left to the world from his plays and sonnets has captured complete and universal insights into human emotion and conflicts, and helped shape the English language that people use today through new words and tropes. His words still shine today, and his timeless works continue to impress us and will likely resonate with future generations to come.

Among the countless hearts that William Shakespeare has won is Chinese President Xi Jinping.

"I often pondered the question of 'To be or not to be.' Eventually, I made up my mind that I should dedicate myself to serving my country and my people," Xi once said in a speech, talking about how he had been inspired by Shakespeare's works in his youth. 

President Xi's "Shakespeare booklist" encompasses "A Midsummer Night's Dream," "The Merchant of Venice," "Twelfth Night," "Romeo and Juliet," "Hamlet, " "Othello," "King Lear" and "Macbeth."