"Now is the winter of our discontent
Made glorious summer by this sun of York."
In these famous opening lines of the play, Richard compares the current state of England to a "winter" that is about to be saved by a particular "sun." Here, he notes that the nation is at its lowest point, but that better times are ahead – not because of a literal sun, but because of the "son" of York, Edward IV.
"And therefore, since I cannot prove a lover,
To entertain these fair well-spoken days,
I am determined to prove a villain
And hate the idle pleasures of these days."
This quote appears in Richard's first monologue, in which he lays out an explanation for the villain he is about to become. According to Richard, because he is considered too ugly to be a "lover," or protagonist, he will become an antagonist. This opening speech endows Richard with a profound self-awareness that he then, likely, uses as an excuse for continued escalations in cruelty. It also represents a meta-theatrical comment on the conventions of theater at the time, as Richard acknowledges the two positions he could occupy in terms of a historical narrative but also in terms of a play being performed.
"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."
Here, Richard boasts to himself about his ability to deceive and persuade the other characters of the play. He compares his smooth speech to holy clothing that he uses to disguise his true, evil intentions. Indeed, the majority of characters (even those who initially detest Richard) are eventually won over by him, with only his mother and Prince Edward remaining skeptics throughout the play.
"So wise so young, they say, do never live long."
After the death of King Edward and the murder of his brother, Clarence, Richard becomes the Lord Protector of King Edward's two sons, Edward, Prince of Wales, and Richard, Duke of York. When Richard tells the brothers they will stay in the Tower until Prince Edward's coronation, Edward is skeptical of the plan. In this aside, Richard notes Edward's doubts about him and jests with himself that Edward's wisdom might lead to a shortened life. Of course, Richard speaks the line knowing that the brothers will be murdered in the Tower once he himself assumes the throne.
"Bloody thou art, bloody will be thy end.
Shame serves thy life and doth thy death attend."
When Richard attempts to convince Elizabeth to allow him to marry her daughter (after killing her two brothers), Elizabeth is shocked and repulsed by his request. In a heated exchange, Elizabeth insults Richard and implies that she knows how truly evil he is. Many perceive this conversation between Elizabeth and Richard to be the first sign of Richard's impending fall, as Elizabeth here expresses, in a somewhat prophetical manner, Richard's demise. Though she speaks primarily out of her own grief, her words resonate as both foreboding and threatening for Richard's future.
"I had an Edward till a Richard killed him;
I had a husband till a Richard killed him.
Thou hadst an Edward till a Richard killed him;
Thou hadst a Richard till a Richard killed him."
As mentioned previously, the women in Richard III become exemplars of memory and remembering, most notably through their relentless grief as Richard continues to kill more of their loved ones. Here, Margaret speaks to Elizabeth about the evil Richard has done, reminding her (and the audience) of the many men and boys who have become victims of Richard's villainy.
"O, thou well-skilled in curses, stay awhile,
And teach me how to curse mine enemies."
In Act Four, Elizabeth asks Margaret to teach her how to "curse." This budding relationship between the two women is unexpected, as they were previously enemies. However, Elizabeth's request suggests that their shared experience of grief has taken precedence and drawn them closer together, an alliance that Richard knows is a threat to his continued scheming.
"True hope is swift, and flies with swallow's wings;
Kings it makes gods, and meaner creatures kings."
In a surprisingly uplifting passage from the play, Richmond (who will become King Henry VII) compares hope to a bird that can elevate anyone who possesses it – turning kings into gods and common people into kings. He acknowledges that when the cause one fights for is just, hope will be "swift" to make these major transformations. Richmond's optimism within such a bleak and murderous play foreshadows his eventual overthrow of Richard.
"My conscience hath a thousand several tongues,
And every tongue brings in a several tale,
And every tale condemns me for a villain."
Here, Richard reckons with the extent of his own villainy, and even suggests that he experiences, if not remorse, then some form of guilt over what he has done. By referring to his own conscience as the thing with "several tongues" that condemn him, he suggests that he is aware of himself as an evil being. He also suggests here that he is aware of the reputation he has carved for himself, and he subtly challenges the audience to recognize his motivation as a form of redemption for his legacy.
"A horse! a horse! my kingdom for a horse!"
This is perhaps the most famous quotation from the play, and it comes just before Richard is slain on the battlefield against Richmond. Having lost his horse, Richard is frantic, confused, and weak. He repeats this exclamation as he charges through battle killing everyone he sees. Here, Richard essentially announces that he needs a horse so badly he will trade his entire kingdom for it – an overstatement, of course, but one that highlights both his self-interested perspective and his desperation as he reckons with his impending demise.
