"God's is the quarrel; for God's substitute,
His deputy anointed in His sight,
Hath caused his death: the which if wrongfully,
Let heaven revenge; for I may never lift
An angry arm against His minister."
In this quotation from early in the play, John of Gaunt expresses his belief that Richard, as an anointed king, is God's "deputy" on earth. John of Gaunt's perspective represents the religious reading of kingship, in which kings were understood as near-divine beings. As such, Gaunt is willing to let Richard get away with murder because only God can judge him. As the play develops, this religious perspective will be replaced by that of Bolingbroke's supporters, who see kingship as something earned through the loyalty of the people.
"Four lagging winters and four wanton springs
End in a word; such is the breath of kings."
When Richard reduces Bolingbroke's banishment from ten years to six, Bolingbroke remarks that a king's words can make four years go by. This comment is likely made ironically, as Bolingbroke does not think Richard deserves the power that he has. Of course, Richard himself fully believes Bolingbroke's assertion, seeing himself as a near-divine ruler whose words are powerful enough to change the fates of men.
"How he did seem to dive into their hearts
With humble and familiar courtesy,
What reverence he did throw away on slaves,
Wooing poor craftsmen with the craft of smiles
And patient underbearing of his fortune,
As 'twere to banish their affects with him."
When Richard has the opportunity to banish Bolingbroke from England, he is relieved. Here, he explains how he noticed that the people seem to adore Bolingbroke and how he, in their presence, appears as a salve to all their problems. While Richard is convinced his power is absolute, the quotation suggests that he is perturbed by the extent to which Bolingbroke is adored by his subjects.
"Take Hereford's rights away, and take from Time
His charters and his customary rights;
Let not to-morrow then ensue to-day;
Be not thyself; for how art thou a king
But by fair sequence and succession?"
After John of Gaunt dies, Richard seizes all his land and wealth (a move that catalyzes Bolingbroke's vengeful return to England and ultimately leads to Richard's loss of the crown). Here, York timidly encourages Richard to rethink the decision; he explains that the law dictates that Gaunt's property be passed to his son. Furthermore, York reminds Richard that if he defies this particular law regarding birthright, his own birthright as king could be called into question, foreshadowing the events to come.
"Well, somewhat we must do."
Richard leaves for Ireland and leaves York in charge of the kingdom. When York hears that Bolingbroke is planning a return to England, he realizes he must do something. This simple and straightforward quotation stands in stark contrast to Richard's passivity, as he believes that, as an anointed king, God will handle all of his conflicts for him. York realizes that this perception is absurd and begins to issue actual orders in Richard's absence.
"For God's sake let us sit upon the ground
And tell sad stories of the death of kings –"
In another act of extreme passivity, Richard makes no attempts to defend himself (or his people) against Bolingbroke and his army. Instead, he chooses to sit down and tell stories about other kings who have been murdered throughout history. This choice emphasizes both Richard's ineptitude as a king and his self-absorbed understanding that he, too, will become a "story" one day, simply by being a king.
"I had forgot myself; am I not king?
Awake, thou coward majesty! thou sleepest.
Is not the king's name twenty thousand names?
Arm, arm, my name! a puny subject strikes
At thy great glory."
Upon hearing the Bolingbroke is marching into England with a large army, Richard's first response is to become angry at his subjects for not immediately jumping to defend him. Here, Richard expresses the belief that he deserves the loyalty of the people regardless of what kind of ruler he is, and he is shocked to see that his power has already begun to diminish in the eyes of those he governs.
"Mine eyes are full of tears; I cannot see.
And yet salt water blinds them not so much
But they can see a sort of traitor here."
Richard spends the majority of the play "blind" to the actual circumstances of his rule, especially negligent of his own faults and the distasteful feelings that his people have about him. Here, however, as he is physically blinded by the tears caused by his own suffering, he admits that he sees clearly for the first time that those around him are traitors.
"Why, York, what wilt thou do?
Wilt thou not hide the trespass of thine own?
Have we more sons? or are we like to have?
Is not my teeming date drunk up with time?
And wilt thou pluck my fair son from mine age,
And rob me of a happy mother's name?
Is he not like thee? is he not thine own?"
Toward the end of the play, the Duchess of York learns that her husband plans to reveal their son's betrayal of the king. She pleads with him not to do so, imploring him to think about the importance of familial bonds and his own role as a parent rather than a political player. The Duchess of York showcases loyalty to family above all else, while York proves that his loyalty is to the crown – regardless of who wears it.
"His face still combating with tears and smiles,
The badges of his grief and patience..."
In this quotation, York describes Richard as he walks away defeated, having lost the crown to Bolingbroke. York's description of Richard emphasizes his passivity (indeed, he gives up the crown without a physical struggle), as the "combat" he puts forth is one of "tears and smiles" alone – the only battle Richard offers is the suffering on his face.
