Happy the kings whose thrones are founded on their people’s hearts.
—John M. Ford (1957–2006) American Novelist, Writer, Poet
Wise kings generally have wise counsellors; and he must be a wise man himself who is capable of distinguishing one.
—Diogenes Laertius (f.3rd Century CE) Biographer of the Greek Philosophers
The law says what the king pleases.
—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 thief that is not caught is a king.
—Indian Proverb
If you shoot at a king you must kill him.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher
A cat may look at a king.
—Common Proverb
Kings have no friends.
—African Proverb
Kings have many ears and eyes.
—Common 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
Every man is the king of his own beard.
—Persian Proverb
The multitude is stronger than the king.
—African Proverb
If your job is to leaven ordinary lives with elevating spectacle, be elevating or be gone.
—George Will (b.1941) American Columnist, Journalist, Writer
An unjust king is like a river without water.
—Arabic Proverb
A good soldier has only three things to think about; the king, God, and nothing.
—German Proverb
After the game the King and pawn go into the same box.
—Italian Proverb
Water for oxen, wine for kings.
—Spanish Proverb
A crown, golden in show, is but a wreath of thorns; brings danger, troubles, cares, and sleepless nights, to him who wears a regal diadem.
—John Milton (1608–74) English Poet, Civil Servant, Scholar, Debater
Better a live beggar than a dead king.
—Chinese Proverb
Better to be a free bird than a captive king.
—Danish 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
He who works as a slave, eats as a king.
—Indian Proverb
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
Looking at a king’s mouth one would never think he sucked his mother’s breast.
—African Proverb
A family on the throne is an interesting idea. It brings down the pride of sovereignty to the level of petty life.
—Walter Bagehot (1826–77) English Economist, Journalist
If the king says that it is night in the middle of the day, look up at the stars.
—Arabic Proverb
Drink water like an ox, wine like the king of Spain.
—Italian Proverb
When a king makes a mistake, all the people suffer.
—Chinese Proverb
Seven days king, seven days minister, slave for the rest of your life.
—Arabic Proverb
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