--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: And then the sword came down like a flash…" description: "\"“And then the sword came down like a flash of lightning, and then her head was off her body and the long rivalry between me and the other Boleyn girl w..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fc2/philippa-gregory-674_boleyn_and-then-the-sword-came-down-like-a-flas_1581309.png" --- # And then the sword came down like a flash of lightning… ![“And then the sword came down like a flash of lightning, and then her head was off her body and the long rivalry between me and the other Boleyn girl was over.” quote by Philippa Gregory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fc2/philippa-gregory-674_boleyn_and-then-the-sword-came-down-like-a-flas_1581309.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fc2/philippa-gregory-674_boleyn_and-then-the-sword-came-down-like-a-flas_1581309.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fc2/philippa-gregory-674_boleyn_and-then-the-sword-came-down-like-a-flas_1581309.png) > ““And then the sword came down like a flash of lightning, and then her head was off her body and the long rivalry between me and the other Boleyn girl was over.”” [Philippa Gregory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippa-gregory/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A violent act ends a rivalry, illustrating the brutal consequences of power struggles. **In simple terms:** A sword ended a rivalry brutally. Key Takeaway Beware the deadly cost of rivalry. Themes violence power rivalry Mood dramatic tragic Type historical narrative When to use this quote - court intrigue - family conflict - political ambition Key Concepts betrayal revenge historical drama Questions to Reflect On - What drives people to conflict? - How can rivalry be resolved peacefully? A Different Perspective The focus on violence may glorify conflict. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Boleyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/boleyn/) [Death and dying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/death-and-dying/) [Sword](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sword/) ## Related quotes > [“Anne's smile was as sweet as poison. 'What matter? So long as it is a Boleyn girl?' 'I didn't want you to come back…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippa-gregory/anne-s-smile-was-as-sweet-as-poison-what-matter-so-long-as-it-is-a/) [Philippa Gregory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippa-gregory/) > [“When I was first at court and he was the young husband of a beautiful wife, he was a golden king. They called him…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippa-gregory/when-i-was-first-at-court-and-he-was-the-young-husband-of-a-beautiful/) [Philippa Gregory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippa-gregory/) > [“What's your family?" he demanded through clenched teeth. " Boleyn." " What's your kin?" "Howard's." "What's your home?" "Hever and Rochford." "What's your kingdom?"…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippa-gregory/what-s-your-family-he-demanded-through-clenched-teeth-boleyn-what-s/) [Philippa Gregory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippa-gregory/) > [“Jane would be the next queen and her children, when she had them, would be the next princes or princesses. Or she might wait,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippa-gregory/jane-would-be-the-next-queen-and-her-children-when-she-had-them-would/) [Philippa Gregory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippa-gregory/) > [“And any hope Damen had that Laurent could control this scene ended as Laurent's face shuttered, as his eyes went cold, and with the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-u-pacat/and-any-hope-damen-had-that-laurent-could-control-this-scene-ended-as/) [S.U. Pacat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-u-pacat/) > [“The pale sword came shivering through the air”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-r-r-martin/the-pale-sword-came-shivering-through-the-air/) [George R.R. Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-r-r-martin/) > [But it was Valentine. I saw him. In fact, he had the Sword with him when he came down to the cells and taunted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/but-it-was-valentine-i-saw-him-in-fact-he-had-the-sword-with-him-when/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [“She's a Boleyn and a Howard,"I said frankly."Underneath the great name, we 're all bitches on heat.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philipa-gregory/she-s-a-boleyn-and-a-howard-i-said-frankly-underneath-the-great-name/) Philipa Gregory > [“A decade of self-aggrandisement, since his daughter flashed her cunny at the king, has made Boleyn rich and settled and confident.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilary-mantel/a-decade-of-self-aggrandisement-since-his-daughter-flashed-her-cunny/) [Hilary Mantel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilary-mantel/) > [“But Christendom was overturned for the Boleyn marriage, to put the ginger pig in the cradle;”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilary-mantel/but-christendom-was-overturned-for-the-boleyn-marriage-to-put-the/) [Hilary Mantel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilary-mantel/) > [Famously, Anne Boleyn was not a beauty: she was more about quirkiness and an innate sensuality, and there are a lot of references to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-dormer/famously-anne-boleyn-was-not-a-beauty-she-was-more-about-quirkiness/) [Natalie Dormer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-dormer/) > [I think the thing about Anne Boleyn is there is an exotic quality to her. This is a woman who wasn’t raised in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-dormer/i-think-the-thing-about-anne-boleyn-is-there-is-an-exotic-quality-to/) [Natalie Dormer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-dormer/) > [“Ann Boleyn...a Renaissance Audrey Hepburn in a little black dress.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joann-spears/ann-boleyn-a-renaissance-audrey-hepburn-in-a-little-black-dress/) JoAnn Spears > [He turns to the painting. "I fear Mark was right." "Who is Mark?" "A silly little boy who runs after George Boleyn. I once…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilary-mantel/he-turns-to-the-painting-i-fear-mark-was-right-who-is-mark-a-silly/) [Hilary Mantel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilary-mantel/) > [Just a little off the top!"- A. Boleyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/just-a-little-off-the-top-a-boleyn/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Philippa Gregory > [“Mother, before God," I say, my voice shaking with tears, "I swear that I have to believe that there is more for me in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippa-gregory/mother-before-god-i-say-my-voice-shaking-with-tears-i-swear-that-i/) [Philippa Gregory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippa-gregory/) > [“Say yes,’ he whispers. ‘Marry me.’ I hesitate. I open my eyes. ‘You will get my fortune,’ I remark. ‘When I marry you, everything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippa-gregory/say-yes-he-whispers-marry-me-i-hesitate-i-open-my-eyes-you-will-get/) [Philippa Gregory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippa-gregory/) > [“But I warn you that a woman who seeks great power and wealth has to pay a great price, Perhaps you will be a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippa-gregory/but-i-warn-you-that-a-woman-who-seeks-great-power-and-wealth-has-to/) [Philippa Gregory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippa-gregory/) > [“I raised my hand to wave in case he looked back; but he did not. He rode straight backed, looking forward. He rode like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippa-gregory/i-raised-my-hand-to-wave-in-case-he-looked-back-but-he-did-not-he/) [Philippa Gregory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippa-gregory/) > [“When you are still and thoughtful you are as lovely as the statues they are carving in Italy.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippa-gregory/when-you-are-still-and-thoughtful-you-are-as-lovely-as-the-statues/) [Philippa Gregory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippa-gregory/) > [Edward lives as if there is no tomorrow, Richard as if he wants no tomorrow, and George as though someone should give it to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippa-gregory/edward-lives-as-if-there-is-no-tomorrow-richard-as-if-he-wants-no/) [Philippa Gregory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippa-gregory/) > [You can smile when your heart is breaking because you're a woman.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippa-gregory/you-can-smile-when-your-heart-is-breaking-because-you-re-a-woman/) [Philippa Gregory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippa-gregory/) > [En Ma Fin Est Ma Commencement - In my end is my beginning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippa-gregory/en-ma-fin-est-ma-commencement-in-my-end-is-my-beginning/) [Philippa Gregory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippa-gregory/) > [“We fell asleep wrapped in each other as if we could not bear to part, even in sleep we could not bear to let…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippa-gregory/we-fell-asleep-wrapped-in-each-other-as-if-we-could-not-bear-to-part/) [Philippa Gregory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippa-gregory/) > [“One little boy, and he a bastard,' Anne said thoughtfully. 'One little girl of six, one elderly Queen and a King in the prime…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippa-gregory/one-little-boy-and-he-a-bastard-anne-said-thoughtfully-one-little/) [Philippa Gregory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippa-gregory/) > [“We have been married little more than a year and already there is a terrible silence around some subjects. We never speak of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippa-gregory/we-have-been-married-little-more-than-a-year-and-already-there-is-a/) [Philippa Gregory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippa-gregory/) > [“It doesn’t matter if you call it magic or determination. It doesn’t matter if you make a spell or a plot. You have to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippa-gregory/it-doesn-t-matter-if-you-call-it-magic-or-determination-it-doesn-t/) [Philippa Gregory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippa-gregory/) > [“You are my heart. Even if you are a broken heart”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippa-gregory/you-are-my-heart-even-if-you-are-a-broken-heart/) [Philippa Gregory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippa-gregory/) > [“I have overturned the order. Nothing will ever be the same for any woman in this country again.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippa-gregory/i-have-overturned-the-order-nothing-will-ever-be-the-same-for-any/) [Philippa Gregory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippa-gregory/) > [“I will make my own future, not predict it. I don’t need a charm to tell me what I hope will happen. I throw…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippa-gregory/i-will-make-my-own-future-not-predict-it-i-don-t-need-a-charm-to-tell/) [Philippa Gregory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippa-gregory/) [Explore all 408 Philippa Gregory quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippa-gregory/) ## More Boleyn quotes > [Just a little off the top!"- A. Boleyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/just-a-little-off-the-top-a-boleyn/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [He turns to the painting. "I fear Mark was right." "Who is Mark?" "A silly little boy who runs after George Boleyn. I once…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilary-mantel/he-turns-to-the-painting-i-fear-mark-was-right-who-is-mark-a-silly/) [Hilary Mantel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilary-mantel/) > [“Ann Boleyn...a Renaissance Audrey Hepburn in a little black dress.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joann-spears/ann-boleyn-a-renaissance-audrey-hepburn-in-a-little-black-dress/) JoAnn Spears > [“When I was first at court and he was the young husband of a beautiful wife, he was a golden king. They called him…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippa-gregory/when-i-was-first-at-court-and-he-was-the-young-husband-of-a-beautiful/) [Philippa Gregory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippa-gregory/) > [I think the thing about Anne Boleyn is there is an exotic quality to her. This is a woman who wasn’t raised in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-dormer/i-think-the-thing-about-anne-boleyn-is-there-is-an-exotic-quality-to/) [Natalie Dormer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-dormer/) > [“What's your family?" he demanded through clenched teeth. " Boleyn." " What's your kin?" "Howard's." "What's your home?" "Hever and Rochford." "What's your kingdom?"…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippa-gregory/what-s-your-family-he-demanded-through-clenched-teeth-boleyn-what-s/) [Philippa Gregory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippa-gregory/) > [Famously, Anne Boleyn was not a beauty: she was more about quirkiness and an innate sensuality, and there are a lot of references to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-dormer/famously-anne-boleyn-was-not-a-beauty-she-was-more-about-quirkiness/) [Natalie Dormer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-dormer/) > [“But Christendom was overturned for the Boleyn marriage, to put the ginger pig in the cradle;”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilary-mantel/but-christendom-was-overturned-for-the-boleyn-marriage-to-put-the/) [Hilary Mantel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilary-mantel/) > [“A decade of self-aggrandisement, since his daughter flashed her cunny at the king, has made Boleyn rich and settled and confident.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilary-mantel/a-decade-of-self-aggrandisement-since-his-daughter-flashed-her-cunny/) [Hilary Mantel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilary-mantel/) > [“Jane would be the next queen and her children, when she had them, would be the next princes or princesses. Or she might wait,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippa-gregory/jane-would-be-the-next-queen-and-her-children-when-she-had-them-would/) [Philippa Gregory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippa-gregory/) > [“She's a Boleyn and a Howard,"I said frankly."Underneath the great name, we 're all bitches on heat.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philipa-gregory/she-s-a-boleyn-and-a-howard-i-said-frankly-underneath-the-great-name/) Philipa Gregory > [There's a part of my heart that forever has Anne Boleyn written on it, who I played in 'The Tudors.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-dormer/there-s-a-part-of-my-heart-that-forever-has-anne-boleyn-written-on-it/) [Natalie Dormer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-dormer/) > [Anne Boleyn is an intriguing character. She seems to appeal to modern-day women in a very potent way. Because she was such an independently…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-dormer/anne-boleyn-is-an-intriguing-character-she-seems-to-appeal-to-modern/) [Natalie Dormer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-dormer/) > [“Her unusual dark hair and sultry eyes made her stand out--- Anne Boleyn was Tudor England's Angelina Jolie amid a sea of Reese Witherspoons.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kris-waldherr/her-unusual-dark-hair-and-sultry-eyes-made-her-stand-out-anne-boleyn/) [Kris Waldherr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kris-waldherr/) > [“For poor taste in husbands, her judgment rivaled Anne Boleyn's.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meredith-duran/for-poor-taste-in-husbands-her-judgment-rivaled-anne-boleyn-s/) [Meredith Duran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meredith-duran/) [Browse all 19 Boleyn quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/boleyn/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“And then the sword came down like a flash of lightning, and then her head was off her body and the long rivalry between me and the other Boleyn girl was over.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Philippa Gregory" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippa-gregory/and-then-the-sword-came-down-like-a-flash-of-lightning-and-then-her/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Boleyn" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippa-gregory/and-then-the-sword-came-down-like-a-flash-of-lightning-and-then-her/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fc2/philippa-gregory-674_boleyn_and-then-the-sword-came-down-like-a-flas_1581309.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fc2/philippa-gregory-674_boleyn_and-then-the-sword-came-down-like-a-flas_1581309.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fc2/philippa-gregory-674_boleyn_and-then-the-sword-came-down-like-a-flas_1581309.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“And then the sword came down like a flash of lightning, and then her head was off her body and the long…” — Philippa Gregory", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Philippa Gregory", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippa-gregory/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“And then the sword came down...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippa-gregory/and-then-the-sword-came-down-like-a-flash-of-lightning-and-then-her/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippa-gregory/and-then-the-sword-came-down-like-a-flash-of-lightning-and-then-her/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```