There are many well-known quotes in Richard II – here we've listed a few of them, in order of appearance in the play.

Jeremy Irons at Richard II at the Barbican Theatre, 1987, directed by Barry Kyle
Jeremy Irons at Richard II at the Barbican Theatre, 1987, directed by Barry Kyle
Photo by Reg Wilson © RSC Browse and license our images

Forget, forgive, conclude and be agreed:
Our doctors say this is no time to bleed.
(King Richard, Act 1 Scene 1)

We were not born to sue, but to command.
(King Richard, Act 1 Scene 1)

King Richard: Why uncle, thou hast many years to live.
Gaunt: But not a minute, king, that thou canst give.
(Act 1 Scene 3)

This royal throne of kings, this sceptred isle, 
This earth of majesty, this seat of Mars.
(Gaunt, Act 2 Scene 1)

This blessed plot, this earth, this realm, this England.
(Gaunt, Act 2 Scene 1)

Landlord of England art thou and not king.
(Gaunt, Act 2 Scene 1)

The ripest fruit first falls.
(King Richard, Act 2 Scene 1)

Come, lords, away. 
To fight with Glendower and his complices;
A while to work and after holiday.
(Bullingbrook, Act 3 Scene 1)

Not all the water in the rough rude sea 
Can wash the balm from an anointed king.
(King Richard, Act 3 Scene 2)

For heaven’s sake let us sit upon the ground
And tell sad stories of the death of kings.
(King Richard, Act 3 Scene 2)

See, see, King Richard doth himself appear, 
As doth the blushing discontented sun 
From out the fiery portal of the east.
(Bullingbrook, Act 3 Scene 3)

What must the king do now? Must he submit?
The King shall do it.
(Richard, Act 3 Scene 3)

Great Duke of Lancaster, I come to thee 
From plume-plucked Richard, who with willing soul 
Adopts thee heir, and his high sceptre yields 
To the possession of thy royal hand.
(York, Act 4 Scene 1)

With mine own tears I wash away my balm, 
With mine own hands I give away my crown.
(Richard, Act 4 Scene 1)

The shadow of your sorrow hath destroyed 
The shadow of your face.
(Bullingbrook, Act 4 Scene 1)

Doubly divorced? Bad men, ye violate 
A twofold marriage, 'twixt my crown and me 
And then betwixt me and my married wife.
(King Richard, Act 5 Scene 1)

I wasted time, and now doth time waste me.
(King Richard, Act 5 Scene 5)

For now the devil that told me I did well 
Says that this deed is chronicled in hell. 
This dead king to the living king I'll bear. – 
Take hence the rest, and give them burial here.
(Exton, Act 5 Scene 5)

Though I did wish him dead, 
I hate the murd’rer, love him murdered.
(King Henry, Act 5 Scene 6)

I'll make a voyage to the Holy Land 
To wash this blood off from my guilty hand.
(King Henry, Act 5 Scene 6)

 

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