For my Higher English we need to memorize quotes, but the stuff my teacher has picked is really boring. Have you any tips on how to learn the stuff and motivate myself to write a good essay in the final exam in May?

writing stuff out,is the best way to memorise stuff.

write it out,till you can write it out,without looking at the original.

The best trick for all such daunting tasks, is to force the realization at a deep personal level, that it is essential to one's survival in some way. This triggers a mechanism which can "git-er-done". Don't go to the well too often, or it quits working.

Writing out is great, and try using different coloured inks for different ones ... sticking them up on the wall is also good ... that helped me when I was at uni ...
For quotes, try to remember its significance and why you're remembering that particular one, so that you understand it, rather than just memorising the words ..
Good Luck! :)

Try reading the appropriate bits whilst playing your favourite music ... a different track for each piece ... but play the same track EVERY time you read the text. Then, when you're in the exam room, you just think of your music and the words will come to you ... you may even find yourself enjoying the exam!!! Good luck. H x

How about - and this is just something I've thought up in 1 minute which is why it is crap.

You get your quotes and say them in a stupid voice (not while some-one else is around, I hasten to add).

Like saying 'The quality of mercy is not strained, it droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven, upon the place beneath. It is twice blessed; it blesseth him that gives and him that takes. It is mightiest in the mighty, it becomes the throned monarch better than a crown... but I forget the rest - I learned this 45 years ago! But say it like Homer Simpson, or something.

But, thinking back to when I had to learn the whole damn speech - I think I learned it just by saying it over and over and over again until it stuck.

My whole class had detention once and we were told we couldn't go home until we had each learned a verse of
To Autumn
Season of mist and mellow fruitfulness
Close bosomed friend of the maturing sun
Conspiring with him to load and bless with fruit
the vines which round the thatch-eaves run.
Can't remember the rest - but, my point is when you have to learn something you can.
Imagine that downstairs there is a man with a gun who will shoot you if you cannot remember your quotes next time you nip down and raid the refrigerator instead of concentrating.
Best of Luck

Write them out and stick them up around your bathroom mirror, above the fridge, by your desk, etc.,
Trust me, it works.
Tape recording the extracts and playing them over and over helps me when I have to learn lines for a play, so this might prove useful too.
As to writing a good essay, try to establish why your teacher has asked you to memorise these particular items. What themes do they illustrate? (And if you can't see, ask!)
All the best.

visualize them!! you can even pick a quote and draw something that you think is related to that quote. When you're remembering it, it'll come to you quicker visually..

There's 2 methods I use for memorising stuff: 1) as mentioned above, write it out loads of times 2) write a tune to go with it and sing it until you remember the quote.