The very ink of history is written with fluid prejudice
— Mark Twain
No English Queen has made more impact on the history of the nation than Anne Boleyn, and few have been so persistently maligned.
— Joanna Denny “Anne Boleyn: A New Life of England’s Tragic Queen”
Though God cannot alter the past, historians can.
— Samuel Butler
I have never had better opinions of woman than I had of her.
— Thomas Cranmer, Archbishop of Canterbury, Anne Boleyn’s pastor and Boleyn family friend.
For her behaviour, manners, attire and tongue she excelled them all.
— Lancelot de Carles
Her excellent grace and behaviour
— George Cavendish, usher to Cardinal Wolsey, when explaining why Anne stood out from the rest of women at court.
She (Anne) knew perfectly how to sing and dance…to play the lute and other instruments.
— Lancelot de Carles
Imbued with as many outward good qualities in playing on instruments, singing, and such other courtly graces, as few women were of her time.
— William Thomas
Very beautiful.
— Francesco Sanuto, Venetian Diplomat
I find her so bright and pleasant for her young age that I am more beholden to you for sending her to me than you are to me.
— Archduchess Margaret of Austria, who trained Anne as a maid of honour in her household.
He’s marrying the perfect wife for him [Jane Seymour], and he’s learned that he doesn’t need an Anne Boleyn – another partner in crime to help him take over the world. He just needs a wonderful, supportive wife to take care of him when he comes home from a hard day beheading people.
— Jonathan Rhys Meyers
I will not give them up to a person who is the scandal of Christendom and a disgrace to you.
— Catherine of Aragon, talking about Henry’s request for her to pass the jewels he gave her on to Anne Boleyn.
The King’s Grace is ruled by one common stewed whore, Anne Boleyn, who makes all the spirituality to be beggared, and the temporality also.
— Abbot of Whitby 1530
Your Majesty must root out the Lady and her adherents…. This accursed Anne has her foot in the stirrup, and will do the Queen and the Princess all the harm she can. She has boasted that she will make the Princess her lady-in-waiting, or marry her to some varlet.
— Eustace Chapuys (Imperial Ambassador), writing to Emperor Charles V in 1533
If it be true that is openly reported of the Queen’s Grace… I am in such perplexity that my mind is clean amazed; for I never had better opinion in woman than I had in her; which maketh me to think that she should not be culpable… Next to Your Grace, I was most bound to her of all creatures living… I wish and pray for her that she may declare herself inculpable and innocent… I loved her not a little for the love which I judged her to bear towards God and His Gospel.
— Archbishop Thomas Cranmer’s comments about Anne when writing to Henry VIII after her arrest.
It was not a coalition of factions that brought down Anne but Henry’s disaffection caused by her miscarriage of a defective child, the one act, besides adultery, that would certainly destroy his trust in her.
— Retha M Warnicke
She who has been the Queen of England on earth will today become a Queen in Heaven.
— Archbishop Thomas Cranmer, on hearing of Anne Boleyn’s execution.
As an avid Anne admirer, I have read all I can ever find on her and never have I read so many beautiful quotes about her, thankyou so much for making them available. Always I have thought the information most widely published must be one sided, for whatever her pitfalls, she must have been an extraordinary woman for so many people such as myself to still be so interested in finding out all we can after 500 years!
[Reply]
Thank you, June! I really must get round to adding some new quotes here! Yes, I believe she was an extraordinary woman and she would be bemused, honoured and humbled, I think, to know that we are still discussing her today. Thanks for your comment.
[Reply]
Does anyone know if Anne Boleyn did say ‘My blood shall have been well spent’, (talking of her and Henry’s daughter Elizabeth I), while awaiting execution in the tower?
[Reply]
I haven’t been able to find any record of her saying that in the Tower. I love the speech that Anne makes to Henry in that scene in “Anne of the Thousand Days” and I would love it to have happened in real life. Here’s the whole of what she says:
“But Elizabeth is yours. Watch her as she grows; she’s yours. She’s a Tudor! Get yourself a son off of that sweet, pale girl if you can – and hope that he will live! But Elizabeth shall reign after you! Yes, Elizabeth – child of Anne the Whore and Henry the Blood-Stained Lecher – shall be Queen! And remember this: Elizabeth shall be a greater queen than any king of yours! She shall rule a greater England than you could ever have built! Yes – MY Elizabeth SHALL BE QUEEN! And my blood will have been well spent!”
Wonderful! And that scene does show Anne’s spirit and courage in the face of impending doom.
[Reply]
No you got that out of Anne of the thousand days that was fictional.
[Reply]
But isn’t that what Claire said? It was from the movie ‘Anne of a Thousand Days.’ Claire just wishes it could have been true, as it sums up the strength, power and passion, that was Anne Boleyn….
[Reply]
Hi Miriam,
Yes, I did say that it was from the movie but I would love for it to have happened in real life. Hope you had a good Christmas x
[Reply]
My favorite Anne Boleyn quote; “Thus it will be: Grudge who grudge.”
[Reply]
That, along with her initial pendant, will be my next tattoo =-)
[Reply]
she did it is in her journals she kept, that are locked up in england close to were she was killed. if you have the tudors first season and there is a part they tell and show what is made up set and not it shows the memorial for the queen.i could be wrong but well may be real wrong but her daughter when took thrown built it, now it is a very buitiful glass center peice. but their is a spot all the journals from the kings and queens are kept near by, and only select few pages are availible that would basically be in the historian books. i have a friend over their and she told me, so this is hear say also but something to think on. just amagine what those books hold.
[Reply]
I love the quote by Thomas Cranmer so much, i’ve had it tattooed down my right leg x
[Reply]
I SURE WISH THAT I LIVED IN THE UK.. I SIMPLY CAN’T GET ENOUGH OF ANNE BOLEYN, THEN I COULD SEE WITH MY OWN EYES, WHERE ALL HISTORY TOOK PLACE, MAYBE ONE DAY I CAN MAKE A TRIP THERE….CAN ANYONE IMAGINE THE ABSOLUTE TERROR ANNE FELT WAITING HER EXECUTION?? IT IS TOO AWFUL THINKING ABOUT IT….
[Reply]
holly Reply:
February 22nd, 2011 at 6:18 am
A brave, brave woman!
[Reply]
Thankyou for showing an interest in one of the greatest women to walk on this earth!
The scene from ‘Anne of the Thousand Days’ truly does show her character to perfection. These quotes really provide you with another deeper insight into the psychological profile of Queen Anne Boleyn.
[Reply]
I wanted to comment on the Anne of the Thousand Days speech, yes it was fiction but how well it played for those of us who beleive Anne to have been maligned. I saw it at age 10 and became an avid reader of all things Anne.Of course Genvieve Bujold could not have been better in my opinion, it is her I see when I think of Anne.
[Reply]
No English Queen has made more impact on the history of the nation than Anne Boleyn, and few have been so persistently maligned.— Joanna Denny “Anne Boleyn: A New Life of England’s Tragic Queen”
(My favouirte) It makes me smile everytime I read it!
[Reply]
Anne was the center of attention. She was very smart. “Exquisite”. There was something special about her, not just being the king’s wife, mother of a princess, daughter of earl of wiltshire but an exotic quality to her. Natalie Dormer brings her to life!
[Reply]
I have read a few books about Anne and all of them were very good
I very much enjoy learning about Anne and her daughter Elizabeth Of the few portraits I have seen of Anne and her daughter they look so much besides the red hair, but in all I think Anne was very interesting and the quotes about her are amazing!!
[Reply]
I can’t believe her last speech just before she was going to be executed. She must be such a courageous and extraordinary woman. She had four days in the Tower to digest the news of her upcoming execution. It must have been quite a torture. I certainly believe that there was really something special about her.
[Reply]
she was truly one of the most execptional women in our countries past, so strong and brave. you really have to admire wommen like her, they shine out from the pages of history
oh and love the website
[Reply]
My wish is that Henry could see what became of his daughter Elizabeth. I believe shame and a great feeling of loss he would have for his decision to cast Anne aside & execute her for Jane. She was his perfect match. What a fool he was. Anne & Elizabeth are, in my mind, two of the greatest women of all time. I too wish I could go to the UK. Once there, I will not want to come home to Virginia. How ironic that I live in the state named after her daughter. And although it may be estimated, my birthday is one day after Elizabeth’s. What an honour!
[Reply]
Im doing a National History Day project over why Henry changed the church, how he did it, and the reactions to it. Im currently trying to find resources of any kind. Letter, quotes, movies, well just anything and everything. Anne has been one of my major focuses right now, and I would greatly appreciate any and all advice, resources, websites, book titles. Over the short time of this project, I have became more interested in her and as well as the time period it’s self. Please also note my project will not be going as far back as the Tudors, but any information will be welcomed. Please also note, that my partner and I have a 500 word limit, and have already stretched our limits. Thanks you for comments and advice.
[Reply]