21+ Richard III Quotes From Shakespeare's Royally Good Play

'Richard III' is one of Shakespeare's most important and most celebrated historical tragedies that records the short reign of the Machiavellian king Richard, the Third of England.

Written in between 1592-1593, it is ranked as the second-longest Shakesperean play and in the First Folio, it is ranked the longest. The play focuses on the titular character King Richard and his subsequent advent in the seat of power and his fall to ruin, all in a short span of time as well.

Eventually, he is killed in battle by the next king Henry IV when he faces a disadvantage in the battlefield on being unhorsed, and in desperation he was even willing to trade his kingdom for a horse.

Here is a list of some of the best quotes from this famous historical play by William Shakespeare that has influenced many contemporary writers of historical drama.

Richard III is both the protagonist and villain of this play, so read on for his best quotes.

If you like our content, you will love other amazing articles like these Shakespeare quotes about death and 'Twelfth Night' quotes.

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William Shakespeare 'Richard III' Quotes

If you are looking for some exemplary 'Richard III' Shakespeare quotes, you should check out this list.

1. "To entertain these fair well-spoken days,

I am determined to prove a villain

and hate the idle pleasures of these days."

-Richard, 'Richard III', Act 1, Scene 1.

2. "Now is the winter of our discontent, made glorious summer by this sun of York."

-Richard, Act 1, Scene 1.

3. "I cannot prove a lover."

-Gloucester,  Act 1, Scene 1.

4. "So wise so young, they say do never live long."

-Gloucester,  Act 3, Scene 1.

5. "With odd old ends stolen out of Holy Writ, and seem a saint when most I play the devil."

-Richard, Act 1, Scene 3.

6. "Our dreadful marches to delightful measures.

Grim-visaged war hath smooth'd his wrinkled front;

and now, instead of mounting barbed steeds

to fright the souls of fearful adversaries,

he capers nimbly in a lady's chamber

to the lascivious pleasing of a lute."

-Gloucester,  Act 1, Scene 1.

7. "Was ever woman in this humor wooed?

Was ever woman in this humour won?

I'll have her; but I will not keep her long."

-Gloucester,  Act 1, Scene 2.

8. "My conscience hath a thousand several tongues,

and every tongue brings in a several tale,

and every tale condemns me for a villain."

-Richard, Act 5, Scene 3.

9. "An honest tale speeds best being plainly told."

-Queen Elizabeth, Act 4, Scene 4.

10. "Conscience is but a word that cowards use,

devised at first to keep the strong in awe.

Our strong arms be our conscience, swords our law."

-Richard, Act 5, Scene 3.

Famous Quotes From 'Richard III'

Here is a list of some of the most famous quotes including love quotes from 'Richard III' by William Shakespeare.

11. "Slave, I have set my life upon a cast,

and I will stand the hazard of the die:

I think there be six Richmonds in the field; five have I slain to-day instead of him.

A horse! a horse! My kingdom for a horse!"

-Richard, Act 5, Scene 4.

12. "Bloody thou art, bloody will be thy end; Shame serves thy life and doth thy death attend."

-Duchess Of York, Act 4, Scene 4.

13. "Why, I, in this weak piping time of peace,

have no delight to pass away the time,

unless to spy my shadow in the sun

and descant on mine own deformity."

-Gloucester,  Act 1, Scene 1.

14. "We will unite the white rose and the red: smile heaven upon this fair conjunction,

that long have frown'd upon their enmity!"

-Richmond, Act 5, Scene 5.

15. "All for our vantage.

Then, in God's name, march:

True hope is swift, and flies with swallow's wings:

Kings it makes gods, and meaner creatures kings."

-Richmond, Act 5, Scene 2.

16. "I cannot tell: the world is grown so bad,

that wrens make prey where eagles dare not perch:

since every Jack became a gentleman there's many a gentle person made a Jack."

-Gloucester,  Act 1, Scene 3.

17. "What do I fear? myself? there's none else by: Richard loves Richard;

that is, I am I. Is there a murderer here? No. Yes, I am: Then fly.

What, from myself? Great reason why: Lest I revenge.

What, myself upon myself? Alack. I love myself.

Wherefore? for any good that I myself have done unto myself?

O, no! alas, I rather hate myself For hateful deeds committed by myself!"

-Richard, Act 5, Scene 2.

18. "My heart is ten times lighter than my looks."

-Surrey, Act 5, Scene 3.

19. "Why, then All-Souls' day is my body's doomsday.

This is the day that, in King Edward's time,

I wish't might fall on me,

when I was found false to his children or his wife's allies this is the day

wherein I wish'd to fall by the false faith of him I trusted most; this,

this All-Souls' day to my fearful soul is the determined respite of my wrongs..."

-Buckingham, Act 5, Scene 3.

20. "Every man's conscience is a thousand swords, to fight against that bloody homicide."

-Oxford, Act 5, Scene 3.

21. "Fellows in arms, and my most loving friends,

Bruised underneath the yoke of tyranny,

thus far into the bowels of the land have we march'd on without impediment;

and here receive we from our father Stanley lines of fair comfort and encouragement."

-Richmond, Act 5, Scene 3.

22. "Look, how this ring encompasseth thy finger,

Even so thy breast encloseth my poor heart;

Wear both of them, for both of them are thine."

- Richard, Act 1, Scene 2.

Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly quotes for everyone to enjoy! If you liked our suggestions for 'Richard III' quotes, then why not take a look at quotes from Julius Caesar, or Shakespeare love quotes.

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Second image credit: Ana Hollan / Shutterstock.com