Kings, in this chiefly, should imitate God; their mercy should be above all their works.
—William Penn (1644–1718) American Entrepreneur, Philosopher, Political Leader
I’d like to be queen of people’s hearts.
—Diana, Princess of Wales (1961–97) English Royal, Humanitarian, Peace Activist
The silence of the people is a warning for the king.
—French Proverb
He on whom Heaven confers a sceptre knows not the weight till he bears it.
—Pierre Corneille (1606–84) French Poet, Dramatist
The king goes as far as he may, not as far as he could.
—Spanish Proverb
In sovereignty it is a most happy thing not to be compelled, but so it is a most miserable thing not to be counselled.
—Ben Jonson (1572–1637) English Dramatist, Poet, Actor
Royalty is a government in which the attention of the nation is concentrated on one person doing interesting actions.
—Walter Bagehot (1826–77) English Economist, Journalist
They say that kings are made in the image of God. If that is what he looks like, I feel sorry for God.
—Frederick II of Prussia (1712–86) Prussian Monarch
I am every day more convinced that we women, if we are to be good women, feminine and amiable and domestic, are not fitted to reign; at least it is they that drive themselves to the work which it entails.
—Queen Victoria (1819–1901) British Royal
Drink water like an ox, wine like the king of Spain.
—Italian Proverb
Princes are never without flatterers to seduce them; ambition to deprave them; and desires to corrupt them.
—Plato (428 BCE–347 BCE) Greek Philosopher, Mathematician, Educator
He is a king who fears nothing, he is a king who desires nothing!
—Seneca the Younger (Lucius Annaeus Seneca) (c.4 BCE–65 CE) Roman Stoic Philosopher, Statesman, Tragedian
Call me Diana, not Princess Diana.
—Diana, Princess of Wales (1961–97) English Royal, Humanitarian, Peace Activist
If the king says that it is night in the middle of the day, look up at the stars.
—Arabic Proverb
If your job is to leaven ordinary lives with elevating spectacle, be elevating or be gone.
—George Will (b.1941) American Columnist, Author, Commentator
It is hard for an ex-king to become a night watchman.
—Indian Proverb
Every man is the king of his own beard.
—Persian Proverb
A good soldier has only three things to think about; the king, God, and nothing.
—German Proverb
The king will best govern his realm who reigneth over his people as a father doth over his children.
—Agesilaus (c.444–360 BCE) Spartan King, Commander
Vulgarity in a king flatters the majority of the nation.
—George Bernard Shaw (1856–1950) Irish Playwright
Kings are not born: they are made by artificial hallucination.
—George Bernard Shaw (1856–1950) Irish Playwright
Though God hath raised me high, yet this I count the glory of my crown: that I have reigned with your loves. And though you have had, and may have, many mightier and wiser princes sitting in this seat; yet you never had, nor shall have any that will love you better.
—Queen Elizabeth I (1533–1603) British Monarch
Everyone likes flattery; and when you come to Royalty you should lay it on with a trowel.
—Benjamin Franklin (1706–90) American Political Leader, Inventor, Diplomat
I am your anointed Queen. I will never be by violence constrained to do anything. I thank God I am endued with such qualities that if I were turned out of the Realm in my petticoat I were able to live in any place in Christendom.
—Queen Elizabeth I (1533–1603) British Monarch
If a child washes his hands he could eat with kings.
—African Proverb
Water for oxen, wine for kings.
—Spanish Proverb
A big chair does not make a king.
—African Proverb
Princes give me sufficiently if they take nothing from me, and do me much good if they do me no hurt; it is all I require of them.
—Michel de Montaigne (1533–92) French Essayist
Looking at a king’s mouth one would never think he sucked his mother’s breast.
—African Proverb
If you shoot at a king you must kill him.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher
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