Let 's kill all the lawyers - wikipedia Let 's kill all the lawyers For other uses, see Let 's kill all the lawyers ( disambiguation ). `` Let 's kill all the lawyers '' is a line from William Shakespeare 's Henry VI, Part 2, Act IV, Scene 2. The full quote is `` The first thing we do, let 's kill all the lawyers ''. It is among Shakespeare 's most famous lines, as well as one of his most controversial, and has been used as the title of movies and books. Shakespeare may be making a joke when character `` Dick The Butcher '' suggests one of the ways the band of pretenders to the throne can improve the country is to kill all the lawyers. Dick is a rough character, a killer as evil as his name implies, like the other henchmen, and this is his rough solution to his perceived societal problem. There is some disagreement with the interpretation that one of Shakespeare 's sympathetic characters would make a joke suggesting that killing lawyers would make the world better. The Florida Bar Association contends the quote was a lawyer joke. Henry VI, Part 2, Act IV, Scene 2 JACK CADE. Valiant I am. SMITH ( aside ). A must needs ; for beggary is valiant. JACK CADE. I am able to endure much. DICK ( aside ). No question of that ; for I have seen him whipp 'd three market - days together. JACK CADE. I fear neither sword nor fire. SMITH ( aside ). He need not fear the sword ; for his coat is of proof. DICK ( aside ). But methinks he should stand in fear of fire, being burnt i ' th'hand for stealing of sheep. JACK CADE. Be brave, then ; for your captain is brave, and vows reformation. There shall be in England seven half - penny loaves sold for a penny : the three - hoop 'd pot shall have ten hoops ; and I will make it felony to drink small beer : all the realm shall be in common ; and in Cheapside shall my palfrey go to grass : and when I am king, - as king I will be, - ALL. God save your majesty ! JACK CADE. I thank you, good people : - there shall be no money ; all shall eat and drink on my score ; and I will apparel them all in one livery, that they may agree like brothers, and worship me their lord. DICK. The first thing we do, let 's kill all the lawyers. References ^ Jump up to : `` Henry VI, part 2 : Entire Play ''. shakespeare.mit.edu. Retrieved 2016 - 02 - 29. Jump up ^ `` Henry VI ( Part 2 ) the play by William Shakespeare ''. www.william-shakespeare.info. Retrieved 2016 - 03 - 01. Jump up ^ Gershman, Jacob. `` To Kill or Not to Kill All the Lawyers ? That Is the Question ''. Wall Street Journal. ISSN 0099 - 9660. Retrieved 2016 - 03 - 01. Jump up ^ Senkowski, Ron ( 1998 - 05 - 15 ), Let 's Kill All the Lawyers, retrieved 2016 - 03 - 01 Jump up ^ Levine, Paul ( 2012 - 06 - 01 ). Kill All the Lawyers ( Unabridged ed. ). Place of publication not identified : Blackstone Audio. ISBN 9781433227288. Jump up ^ `` '' The first thing we do, let 's kill all the lawyers '' - it 's a lawyer joke ``. www.spectacle.org. Retrieved 2016 - 03 - 01. Jump up ^ `` ' Kill the Lawyers, ' A Line Misinterpreted ''. The New York Times. 1990 - 06 - 17. ISSN 0362 - 4331. Retrieved 2016 - 03 - 01. Jump up ^ `` Let 's Kill All the Lawyers ! Shakespeare ( Might Have ) Meant It ''. www.floridabar.org. Retrieved 2016 - 03 - 01. Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Let%27s_kill_all_the_lawyers&oldid=842439787 '' Categories : Shakespearean phrases Talk About Wikipedia Add links This page was last edited on 22 May 2018, at 13 : 19. About Wikipedia

Question: who said let's kill all the lawyers
Answer: Dick The Butcher