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Thomas Malory Quotes

Sir Thomas Malory was an English writer, the author or compiler of Le Morte d'Arthur. Since the late nineteenth century, he has generally been identified as Sir Thomas Malory of Newbold Revel in Warwickshire, a knight, land-owner, and Member of Parliament. Previously, it was suggested by antiquary John Leland and John Bale that he was Welsh .

The name could also be rooted in Irish & Scottish Gaelic and mean "follower of the king," as in "maol" and "ry" or "ree" . "Maol" or "Máel" is a common root of indigenous names and is found in the name "Malmesbury" which was founded by the Irish scholar Máel Dub meaning the "dark follower." Arthurian literature originates in the Irish & Scottish Gaelic traditions as Norman interpretation and translation. Occasionally, other candidates are put forward for authorship of Le Morte d'Arthur, but the supporting evidence for their claim has been described as "no more than circumstantial".

✵ 1405 – 14. March 1471
Thomas Malory photo

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Le Morte d'Arthur
Le Morte d'Arthur
Thomas Malory
Thomas Malory: 22   quotes 3   likes

Famous Thomas Malory Quotes

“We shall now seek that which we shall not find”

Thomas Malory

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

Thomas Malory book Le Morte d'Arthur

Book II, ch. 14
Le Morte d'Arthur (c. 1469) (first known edition 1485)

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

Thomas Malory book Le Morte d'Arthur

Book XXI, ch. 11
Le Morte d'Arthur (c. 1469) (first known edition 1485)

“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 book Le Morte d'Arthur

Source: Le Morte d'Arthur

Thomas Malory Quotes about love

“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 book Le Morte d'Arthur

Book XXI, ch. 9
Le Morte d'Arthur (c. 1469) (first known edition 1485)

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

Thomas Malory book Le Morte d'Arthur

Book X, ch. 56
Le Morte d'Arthur (c. 1469) (first known edition 1485)

“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 book Le Morte d'Arthur

Book XXI, ch. 13
Le Morte d'Arthur (c. 1469) (first known edition 1485)

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

Thomas Malory book Le Morte d'Arthur

Book XVIII, ch. 25
Le Morte d'Arthur (c. 1469) (first known edition 1485)
Context: Nowadays men cannot love seven night but they must have all their desires: that love may not endure by reason; for where they be soon accorded and hasty, heat soon it cooleth. Right so fareth love nowadays, soon hot soon cold: this is no stability. But the old love was not so.

“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 book Le Morte d'Arthur

Book XXI, ch. 9
Le Morte d'Arthur (c. 1469) (first known edition 1485)

Thomas Malory Quotes

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

Thomas Malory book Le Morte d'Arthur

Book XVIII, ch. 25
Le Morte d'Arthur (c. 1469) (first known edition 1485)
Context: The month of May was come, when every lusty heart beginneth to blossom, and to bring forth fruit; for like as herbs and trees bring forth fruit and flourish in May, in likewise every lusty heart that is in any manner a lover, springeth and flourisheth in lusty deeds. For it giveth unto all lovers courage, that lusty month of May.

Lovers , Courage

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

Thomas Malory book Le Morte d'Arthur

Book I, ch. 5
Le Morte d'Arthur (c. 1469) (first known edition 1485)

“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 book Le Morte d'Arthur

Book I, ch. 1
Le Morte d'Arthur (c. 1469) (first known edition 1485)

War , Time

“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 book Le Morte d'Arthur

Book XVIII, ch. 25
Le Morte d'Arthur (c. 1469) (first known edition 1485)

Lovers

“Then were they afeard when they saw a knight.”

Thomas Malory book Le Morte d'Arthur

Book I, ch. 23
Le Morte d'Arthur (c. 1469) (first known edition 1485)

“Well, said Merlin, I know whom thou seekest, for thou seekest Merlin; therefore seek no farther, for I am he.”

Thomas Malory book Le Morte d'Arthur

Book I, ch. 1
Le Morte d'Arthur (c. 1469) (first known edition 1485)

“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 book Le Morte d'Arthur

Book I, ch. 25
Le Morte d'Arthur (c. 1469) (first known edition 1485)

Clothes

“What, nephew, said the king, is the wind in that door?”

Thomas Malory book Le Morte d'Arthur

Book VII, ch. 34
Le Morte d'Arthur (c. 1469) (first known edition 1485)

“Always Sir Arthur lost so much blood that it was a marvel he stood on his feet, but he was so full of knighthood that knightly he endured the pain.”

Thomas Malory book Le Morte d'Arthur

Book IV, ch. 9
Le Morte d'Arthur (c. 1469) (first known edition 1485)

Pain

“I shall curse you with book and bell and candle.”

Thomas Malory book Le Morte d'Arthur

Book XXI, ch. 1
Le Morte d'Arthur (c. 1469) (first known edition 1485)

Books

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

Thomas Malory book Le Morte d'Arthur

Book III, ch. 12
Le Morte d'Arthur (c. 1469) (first known edition 1485)

Horse

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