Henry V Famous Quotes

Once more unto the breach, dear friends, once more; Or close the wall up with our English dead.

Henry rallying his troops at the breach in the walls of Harfleur in Act 3 — the speech moves from the battlefield image of the breach to the physical posture of soldiers, building to an assault on a fortified town. The walls did fall.

In peace there's nothing so becomes a man As modest stillness and humility: But when the blast of war blows in our ears, Then imitate the action of the tiger.

Henry continuing the Harfleur speech in Act 3 — contrasting peacetime virtue with wartime ferocity, telling his men that war requires a different self. The tiger instruction comes only after the peacetime man is established.

Cry 'God for Harry, England, and Saint George!'

Henry's battle cry closing the Harfleur speech in Act 3 — the three-part cry invokes God, king, and patron saint in that order, which is the correct hierarchy and the intended meaning.

We few, we happy few, we band of brothers; For he to-day that sheds his blood with me Shall be my brother.

Henry's St Crispin's Day speech before Agincourt in Act 4 — he is outnumbered approximately five to one and his answer is to reframe numerical weakness as an intimate advantage. The 'band of brothers' has become one of the most quoted phrases in military history.

This day is called the feast of Crispian: He that outlives this day, and comes safe home, Will stand a tip-toe when the day is named.

Henry opening the St Crispin's speech in Act 4 — the feast of Crispian is 25 October, the anniversary of Agincourt. He is promising the survivors that this date will mean something for the rest of their lives.

Old men forget: yet all shall be forgot, But he'll remember with advantages What feats he did that day.

Henry in the St Crispin's speech in Act 4, describing how veterans will remember the battle — 'with advantages' means they will improve on the facts over time, which is how war stories always work.

What's he that wishes so? My cousin Westmoreland? No, my fair cousin: If we are mark'd to die, we are enow To do our country loss.

Henry responding to Westmoreland's wish for more men in Act 4 — he rejects the idea that numbers matter and argues that a smaller English death toll is actually preferable if fewer men share the glory.

This story shall the good man teach his son; And Crispin Crispian shall ne'er go by.

Henry predicting in Act 4 that fathers will use this battle to teach their sons — the story did survive: Shakespeare wrote it roughly 180 years after Agincourt, drawing on chronicles that had been doing exactly what Henry describes.

All things are ready, if our minds be so.

Henry to Westmoreland just before the St Crispin's speech in Act 4 — a line of absolute economy. Logistics are settled; what remains is the will to use them.

We would not die in that man's company That fears his fellowship to die with us.

Henry in the St Crispin's speech in Act 4, offering anyone who wants to leave the chance to go — the offer is framed so that accepting it becomes an act of permanent dishonour.

A little touch of Harry in the night.

The Chorus in the prologue to Act 4, describing Henry's night-time walk among his troops before Agincourt — the phrase captures exactly what he is doing: giving soldiers enough of his presence to lift them without revealing his own doubt.

What infinite heart's-ease Must kings neglect, that private men enjoy!

Henry alone before Agincourt in Act 4, thinking about what kingship costs — the ceremony of power is elaborate and the comfort it provides is zero. He would rather be an ordinary person.

And what art thou, thou idle ceremony? What kind of god art thou, that suffer'st more Of mortal griefs than do thy worshippers?

Henry's soliloquy in Act 4 on the nature of kingship — he addresses 'ceremony' as if it were a false god, listing all that it promises (the knee, the intercessory prayers) and delivering precisely nothing in return.

We are in God's hand, brother, not in theirs.

Henry to Gloucester in Act 3, after the army crosses toward Agincourt — Montjoy has just left having been refused ransom terms, and Henry orders the march to the bridge. His faith is the only resource left.

Give them great meals of beef and iron and steel, they will eat like wolves and fight like devils.

The French Constable describing the English soldiers in Act 3 — an enemy's grudging respect for what English troops are like in the field, spoken before Agincourt destroys the assumption of French superiority.