Quotes from King Henry IV, Part 1

24 notable lines from William Shakespeare · c. 1596

The better part of valour is discretion.

Falstaff, Henry IV, Part 1
  1. The better part of valour is discretion; in the which better part I have saved my life.

    Falstaff, Act V scene iv
  2. What is honour? A word. What is that word honour? Air. A trim reckoning! Who hath it? He that died a Wednesday.

    Falstaff's honour catechism, Act V scene i
  3. I know you all, and will awhile uphold the unyoked humour of your idleness.

    Prince Hal, Act I scene ii
  4. I can call spirits from the vasty deep.

    Glendower, Act III scene i
  5. Why, so can I, or so can any man; but will they come when you do call for them?

    Hotspur, Act III scene i
  6. Tell truth and shame the devil.

    Hotspur, Act III scene i
  7. Honour is a mere scutcheon — and so ends my catechism.

    Falstaff, Act V scene i
  8. Banish plump Jack, and banish all the world.

    Falstaff, Henry IV, Part 1
  9. Banish plump Jack, and banish all the world!

    Falstaff, playing the Prince, Act II scene iv
  10. He will give the devil his due.

    Prince Hal, Act I scene ii
  11. By heaven, methinks it were an easy leap, to pluck bright honour from the pale-faced moon.

    Hotspur, Henry IV, Part 1
  12. By heaven, methinks it were an easy leap to pluck bright honour from the pale-faced moon.

    Hotspur, Act I scene iii
  13. Give me life; which if I can save, so; if not, honour comes unlooked for, and there's an end.

    Falstaff, Act V scene iii
  14. Two paces of the vilest earth is room enough.

    Prince Hal over Hotspur's body, Act V scene iv
  15. Ill-weaved ambition, how much art thou shrunk! When that this body did contain a spirit, a kingdom for it was too small a bound.

    Prince Hal over Hotspur's body, Act V scene iv
  16. I'll so offend, to make offence a skill, redeeming time when men think least I will.

    Prince Hal, Act I scene ii
  17. A plague of all cowards, I say, and a vengeance too!

    Falstaff, Act II scene iv
  18. O Harry, thou hast robbed me of my youth!

    Hotspur to Prince Hal, Act V scene iv
  19. But thought's the slave of life, and life time's fool, and time, that takes survey of all the world, must have a stop.

    Hotspur, dying, Act V scene iv
  20. Food for powder, food for powder. They'll fill a pit as well as better.

    Falstaff, Act IV scene ii
  21. If sack and sugar be a fault, God help the wicked! If to be old and merry be a sin, then many an old host that I know is damned.

    Falstaff, Act II scene iv
  22. Thou art so fat-witted with drinking of old sack.

    Prince Hal to Falstaff, Act I scene ii
  23. Diseased nature oftentimes breaks forth in strange eruptions.

    Hotspur, Act III scene i