The Tudors quotes

74 total quotes



All Seasons
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King Henry: You think you know a story, but you only know how it ends. To understand it, you need to start at the beginning.
Season 1

Queen Katherine: Though I love Your Majesty and I'm loyal to you, in every way, I cannot disguise my distress and unhappiness.
King Henry VIII: Well, you're going to have to.

King Henry: Tell me about King Francis, Sir Thomas.
Thomas Boleyn: He's 23 years old.
King Henry: Is he tall?
Thomas Boleyn: Yes. But ill proportioned.
King Henry: What about his legs? Are his calves strong like mine?
Thomas Boleyn: Your Majesty no one has calves like yours.
King Henry: Is he handsome?
Thomas Boleyn: Some people might think so. He certainly thinks so himself.
King Henry: He's vain?!
Thomas Boleyn: Your Majesty... he's French!

Thomas More: As a humanist I have an abhorrence of war. It's an activity fit only for beasts yet practiced by no kind of beasts so constantly as by man.
King Henry: As a humanist I share your opinion. As a King, I'm forced to disagree.
Thomas More: Spoken like a lawyer.
King Henry: You should know, you taught me.
Thomas More: Not well enough it seems.

Thomas More: Do you really think we should go to war?
Cardinal Wolsey: I think we should try to do as the King wants us to do.
Thomas More: What if the King doesn't know what's in his best interests?
Cardinal Wolsey: Then we should help him decide.

King Henry: [to Thomas More] Why is Henry V remembered? Because he endowed Universities? Built Alms houses for the destitute? No. He is remembered because he won the Battle of Agincourt. 3,000 English bowman against 60,000 French. The flower of French chivalry destroyed in 4 hours. That victory made him famous Thomas. It made him immortal!

Thomas Boleyn: There's something deep and dangerous in you Anne, those eyes of yours are like dark hooks for the soul.

Cardinal Wolsey: Thomas, let me give you a little advice. If you want to keep the love of a prince, this is what you must do: You must be prepared to give him the thing you most care for, in all the world.
Thomas More: The thing I care for most is my integrity.

Cardinal Wolsey: What did Lord Buckingham say about the king?
Thomas Boleyn: He told me he has a greater claim to the throne and that, as His Majesty has no male heir and will have none but he, Buckingham will succeed to the throne, but he also told me once that he has considered bringing that eventuality forward more quickly.
Cardinal Wolsey: In what way?
Thomas Boleyn: By assassinating His Majesty.

King Francis: Do you see that young woman over there? Dressed in purple and gold?
King Henry VIII: Yes.
King Francis: Her name is Mary Boleyn, the daughter of your ambassador, with her sister Anne. I call Mary my english mare, because I ride her so often.

Thomas More: [to King Henry] All right! If you want the world to know that the King of England is easily changeable, shallow, intemperate, incapable of keeping his word! Then of course I will go and tell them. After all, I am merely Your Majesty's humble servant!

Cardinal Campeggio: So the deal is off between the French cardinals and Wolsey? As it should be. The next Pope should be Italian, as it was, is, and should be. We had one English Pope. He was insane! No more.

Emperor Charles: Together we shall invade France and bring to an end the adventures of that libertine monarch, King Francis.
King Henry VIII: That would make me very happy.
Emperor Charles: It will also make you king of France.

Anne Boleyn: [to Master Wyatt] You are a poet as I am a woman. Poets and women are always free with their hearts, are they not?

Thomas More: There's only one way to reach the King's ear, and that is through the good offices of Cardinal Wolsey.
Spanish envoy: We heard some rumors, Mr More, that the cardinal advocates the French interests.
Thomas More: Only when he considers them to be in ours.