Thomas Malory quotes

Thomas Malory was an English writer, best remembered for compiling and authoring "Le Morte d'Arthur," a definitive work on Arthurian legend. His collection gathered and retold traditional stories of King Arthur, Merlin, Guinevere, and the Knights of the Round Table. He shaped the enduring image of Arthurian romance that has influenced literature for centuries. Here are 31 of his quotes:

For as well as I have loved thee, mine heart will not serve me to see thee, for through thee and me is the flower of kings and knights destroyed.

Thomas Malory

Whoso pulleth out this sword of this stone and anvil, is rightwise King born of all England.

Thomas Malory

I shall curse you with book and bell and candle.

Thomas Malory

With that truncheon thou hast slain a good knight, and now it sticketh in thy body.

Thomas Malory

For it giveth unto all lovers courage, that lusty month of May.

Thomas Malory

The very purpose of a knight is to fight on behalf of a lady.

Thomas Malory

The sweetness of love is short-lived, but the pain endures.

Thomas Malory

It befell in the days of Uther Pendragon, when he was king of all England, and so reigned, that there was a mighty duke in Cornwall that held war against him long time. And the duke was called the duke of Tintagil.

Thomas Malory

The joy of love is too short, and the sorrow thereof, and what cometh thereof, dureth over long.

Thomas Malory

Through this man (Launcelot) and me (Guenever) hath all this war been wrought, and the death of the most noblest knights of the world; for through our love that we have loved together is my most noble lord slain.

Thomas Malory

Thou Sir Launcelot, there thou liest, that thou were never matched of earthly knight's hand. And thou were the courteoust knight that ever bare shield. And thou were the truest friend to thy lover that ever bestrad horse. And thou were the truest lover of a sinful man that ever loved woman. And thou were the kindest man that ever struck with sword. And thou were the goodliest person that ever came among press of knights. And thou were the meekest man and the gentlest that ever ate in hall among ladies. And thou were the sternest knight to thy mortal foe that ever put spear in the rest.

Thomas Malory

And much more am I sorrier for my good knights' loss than for the loss of my fair queen; for queens I might have enough, but such a fellowship of good knights shall never be together in no company.

Thomas Malory

Knight, keep well thy head, for thou shalt have a buffet for the slaying of my horse.

Thomas Malory

Then Sir Launcelot saw her visage, but he wept not greatly, but sighed.

Thomas Malory

We shall now seek that which we shall not find.

Thomas Malory

Yet some men say in many parts of England that King Arthur is not dead, but had by the will of our Lord Jesu into another place; and men say that he shall come again, and he shall win the holy cross.

Thomas Malory

All ye that be lovers call unto your remembrance the month of May, like as did Queen Guenever, for whom I make here a little mention, that while she lived she was a true lover, and therefore she had a good end.

Thomas Malory

Then were they afeard when they saw a knight.

Thomas Malory

In the midst of the lake Arthur was ware of an arm clothed in white samite, that held a fair sword in that hand.

Thomas Malory

For love that time was not as love is nowadays.

Thomas Malory

Right so fareth love nowadays, soon hot soon cold: this is no stability. But the old love was not so.

Thomas Malory

For, as I suppose, no man in this world hath lived better than I have done, to achieve that I have done.

Thomas Malory