When a king makes a mistake, all the people suffer.
—Chinese Proverb
He who works as a slave, eats as a king.
—Indian Proverb
Happy the kings whose thrones are founded on their people’s hearts.
—John M. Ford (1957–2006) American Novelist, Writer, Poet
A throne is only a bench covered with velvet.
—Napoleon I (1769–1821) Emperor of France
A cat may look at a king.
—Common Proverb
Being a princess isn’t all it’s cracked up to be.
—Diana, Princess of Wales (1961–97) English Royal, Humanitarian, Peace Activist
It is hard for an ex-king to become a night watchman.
—Indian Proverb
All I say is, kings is kings, and you got to make allowances. Take them all around, they’re a mighty ornery lot. It’s the way they’re raised.
—Mark Twain (1835–1910) American Humorist
The king is but a man, as I am; the violet smells to him as it doth to me; the element shows to him as it doth to me; all his senses have but human conditions; his ceremonies laid by, in his nakedness he appears but a man; and though his affections are higher mounted than ours, yet when they stoop, they stoop with the like wing.
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616) British Playwright
Like all the best families, we have our share of eccentricities, of impetuous and wayward youngsters and of family disagreements.
—Queen Elizabeth II (1926–2022) Queen of United Kingdom
If the king says that it is night in the middle of the day, look up at the stars.
—Arabic Proverb
It is easy to govern a kingdom but difficult to rule one’s family.
—Chinese Proverb
The best reason why Monarchy is a strong government is, that it is an intelligible government. The mass of mankind understand it, and they hardly anywhere in the world understand any other.
—Walter Bagehot (1826–77) English Economist, Journalist
The foremost art of kings is the ability to endure hatred.
—Seneca the Younger (Lucius Annaeus Seneca) (c.4 BCE–65 CE) Roman Stoic Philosopher, Statesman, Tragedian
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
A man without a child is a king without sorrows.
—Persian Proverb
The king inherits a country—the people only hard work.
—African Proverb
All precepts concerning kings are comprehended in these: remember thou art a man; remember thou art God’s vicegerent.
—Francis Bacon (1561–1626) English Philosopher
The silence of the people is a warning for the king.
—French Proverb
We treat our people like royalty. If you honor and serve the people who work for you, they will honor and serve you.
—Mary Kay Ash (1918–2001) American Entrepreneur, Businessperson
Every man is the king of his own beard.
—Persian Proverb
Looking at a king’s mouth one would never think he sucked his mother’s breast.
—African Proverb
Love rules his kingdom without a sword.
—Common Proverb
Steal goods and you’ll go to prison, steal lands and you are a king.
—Japanese Proverb
A monarch, when good, is entitled to the consideration which we accord to a pirate who keeps Sunday School between crimes; when bad, he is entitled to none at all.
—Mark Twain (1835–1910) American Humorist
Water for oxen, wine for kings.
—Spanish Proverb
If a child washes his hands he could eat with kings.
—African Proverb
A monarchy is the most expensive of all forms of government, the regal state requiring a costly parade, and he who depends on his own power to rule, must strengthen that power by bribing the active and enterprising whom he cannot intimidate.
—James Fenimore Cooper (1789–1851) American Novelist
What are kings, when regiment is gone, but perfect shadows in a sunshine day?
—Christopher Marlowe (1564–93) English Playwright, Poet, Translator
Kings have many ears and eyes.
—Common Proverb