King Lear Core Quotes

Lear’s narcissism and self-pity. Tragedy and Punishment.

I am a man more sinned against than sinning. - Lear, Act 3 scene 2

Family issues, Goneril confirms a history of withheld love and emotional suffering which create her skewed understanding of love and transaction. It also implies Lear’s love of Cordelia which breeds sibling rivalry. 

I know his heart - Goneril, Act 1 scene 2

Kent discredits Oswalds integrity. He states that even nature rejects him, hes an empty suit with no person inside. 

Nature disclaims in thee; a tailor made thee. - Kent, Act 2 scene 2

Lears criticism of sexuality, noting how it conflicts with our higher selves. 

Down from the waist/ They are Centaurs, though women all above - Lear, Act 4 scene 6

The Fool critising Kent’s loyalty to Lear

if thou follow him, thou must needs wear my coxcomb - The Fool

Lears confrontation with humanity and human suffering.

“Poor naked wretches... expose thyself to feel what wretches feel.” - Lear

Edmund’s rejection of social hierarchy during his soliloquy. He praises the natural order that is often overlooked by humanity, and condemns Edmund for his bastardy. 

Thou, Nature, art my goddess - Edmund

Kent’s initial plea for Lear to be just. Displays his rashness and how his bluntness can betray him as he is stocked for this.

See better, Lear - Kent

Lears recognition of pain caused by his daughters. He compares them to serpents, less than human for rejecting the social order.

Sharper than a serpents tooth it is/ To have a thankless child

Lear’s misplaced favouritism for Cordelia and a demonstration of his transactional view of love. 

i loved her most, and thought to set my rest/ On her kind nursery - Lear

Edmunds rejection of social hierarchy, and vow to gain in ways that demonstrate his cunning and intellect. 

Let me, if not by birth, have lands by wit - Edmund

Lear praying to gods that do not care for him, and foreshadowing his madness.

“O, let me not be mad, not mad, sweet heaven!” - Lear

Gloucester’s belief in cosmic determinism but recognition of a careless god.

“As flies to wanton boys are we to th’ gods.” - Gloucester

Lear’s transactional view of love, said to Cordelia. 

Better thou/ Hadst not been born than not t’have pleas’d me better. - Lear

Cordelia says this to Goneril and Regan in the opening scenes, demonstrating her righteousness and their sibling rivalry.

I know what you are. - Cordelia

Edmund questions his ‘illegitimacy’ during his soliloquy.

Why brand they us/ Why base?/ Why bastard? - Edmund

BRILLIANT QUOTE. Edmund critises his fathers belief in the cosmos whilst simultaneously drawing attention to his lack of civility by having a child with a prostitute and demonising his father by comparing him to a goat. 

An admirale evasion of whoremaster man, to lay his goatish disposition on the charge of a star! - Edmund

The fool critising Lear for his lack of wit in giving away his kingdom and his lack of power.

thou hadst little wit in thy bald crown when thou gav’st thy golden one away.  - The Fool

The fool criticising Lears position as king as all the negative attributes it has created in him.

I would rather be any king o’ thing than a Fool, and yet I would not be thee.  - The fool

The fool critiques Lears lack of wisdom despite his age. 

Thou shouldst not have been old till thou had been wise. - The fool 

Regan to Lear about his old age and how it has removed any authority he had as king.

O, sir you are old/ Nature in you stand on the very verge/ Of his confine. You should be rul’d and led

The Fool on how exposure leads to an understanding of humanity. And how this is often associated with madness.

“This cold night will turn us all to fools and madmen.” - The fool

Cordelias profession and rejection of Lear’s demands for love. This line is the catalyst for the plays conflict. 

Unhappy that I am, I cannot heave My heart into my mouth. I love your majesty According to my bond; no more nor less. - Cordelia 

A recognition of the fools role as truth teller. Said by Regan.

Jesters do oft prove prophets.

Lear’s reaction to Cordelias death reveals his primality that he so often criticised. He also critiques the men around him for their lack of care for Cordelias death which is ironic because he has only just now learned care and compassion for others.

Howl, howl, howl, howl! O, you are men of stones! - Lear

Lear reconciling with Cordelia. Inverting the circumstance which caused the plays conflict. 

When thou dost ask me blessing, I’ll kneel down And ask of thee forgiveness. - Lear

Edmund condemning humans, particularly his fathers animalistic and impulsive traits that led to his insuperiority.

The gods are just, and of our pleasant vices/ Make instruments to plague us. - Edmund

Gloucesters, despair at his blinding and his own actions.

I have no way, and therefore want no eyes: I stumbled when I saw. - Gloucesters

Edgar takes on his disguise as poor tom into what he claims is ‘nothing’.

Edgar I nothing am - Edgar

The last lines, delivered by Edgar. The avenging hero.

“The weight of this sad time we must obey/ Speak what we feel, not what we ought to say

Kents, final words about Lear. Acknowledging the end of Lear’s moral arc.

“Vex not his ghost. O let him pass. He hates him/ That would upon the rack of this tough world/ Stretch him out longer.” 

Albany emerges as a stabilising figure in the last scene. 

All friends shall taste the wages of their virtue, and all foes the cup of their deservings. - Albany

Lear wrestles with the injustice of death and grief, following the death of his fool.

Why should a dog, a horse, a rat have life, and thou no breath at all? - Lear

The fool on truth

Truth’s a dog must to a kennel. He must be whipped out

The fools alignment with cordelia.

this fellow has banished two on’s daughters and did the third a blessing against his will

The fools perspective on speaking truth above all.

Then 'tis like the breath of an unfed lawyer, you gave me nothing for’t. Can you make no use of nothing, nuncle?

The fools warning of the power of nature, particularly the storm 

Heres a night pities neither wise men nor fools. - The fool 

Edgar appealing to his fathers faith in order to cure his despair.

Think that the clearest gods, who make them honours of mens impossibilities, have preserved thee. - Edgar