Famous Quotations from Richard III

Shakespeare’s play chronicling the devious machinations of the deformed villain, Richard, is packed with familiar quotations. Here are the most famous of them all.

1.
A horse! a horse! my kingdom for a horse!
(5.4.8), Richard

2.
Now is the winter of our discontent
Made glorious summer by this sun of York.
(1.1.1-2), Richard

3.
And thus I clothe my naked villany
With old odd ends stolen out of holy writ;
And seem a saint, when most I play the devil.
(1.3.343), Richard

4.
So wise so young, they say, do never live long.
(3.1.79), Richard

5.
Bloody thou art, bloody will be thy end.
(4.4.200), Duchess of York

6.
The king’s name is a tower of strength.
(5.3.14), Richard

7.
Since I cannot prove a lover…
I am determined to prove a villain.
(1.1.28, 30), Richard

8.
A thing devised by the enemy.
(5.3.313), Richard III

9.
True hope is swift, and flies with swallow’s wings;
Kings it makes gods, and meaner creatures kings.
(5.2.24), Richmond

10.
Grim-visaged War hath smoothed his wrinkled front.
(1.1.9), Richard

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