There is no king who has not had a slave among his ancestors, and no slave who has not had a king among his.
—Helen Keller (1880–1968) American Author
Kings have many ears and eyes.
—Common Proverb
Call me Diana, not Princess Diana.
—Diana, Princess of Wales (1961–97) English Royal, Humanitarian, Peace Activist
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
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
Aspect are within us, and who seems most kingly is king.
—Thomas Hardy (1840–1928) English Novelist, Poet
Kings fight for empires, madmen for applause.
—John Dryden (1631–1700) English Poet, Literary Critic, Playwright
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
A throne is only a bench covered with velvet.
—Napoleon I (1769–1821) Emperor of France
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
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
Majesty and love do not consort well together, nor do they dwell in the same place.
—Ovid (Publius Ovidius Naso) (c.43 BCE–c.18 CE) Roman Poet
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) King of Prussia, Military Strategist
There is no necessity to separate the monarch from the mob; all authority is equally bad.
—Oscar Wilde (1854–1900) Irish Poet, Playwright
I have nothing against the Queen of England. Even in my heart I never resented her for not being Jackie Kennedy. She is, to my mind, a very gallant lady, victimized by whoever it is who designs the tops of her uniforms.
—Leonard Cohen (1934–2016) Canadian Singer, Songwriter, Poet, Novelist
The Sovereign has, under a constitutional monarchy such as ours, three rights—the right to be consulted, the right to encourage, the right to warn. And a king of great sense and sagacity would want no others.
—Walter Bagehot (1826–77) English Economist, Journalist
Divine right of kings means the divine right of anyone who can get uppermost.
—Herbert Spencer (1820–1903) English Polymath, Philosopher, Political/Social Theorist
We live in what virtually amounts to a museum—which does not happen to a lot of people.
—Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh (1921–2021) Consort of Queen Elizabeth II
Picture the prince, such as most of them are today: a man ignorant of the law, well-nigh an enemy to his people’s advantage, while intent on his personal convenience, a dedicated voluptuary, a hater of learning, freedom and truth, without a thought for the interests of his country, and measuring everything in terms of his own profit and desires.
—Desiderius Erasmus (c.1469–1536) Dutch Humanist, Scholar
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
Kings govern by popular assemblies only when they cannot do without them.
—Charles James Fox (1749–1806) British Statesman, Whig Leader
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
I’d like to be queen of people’s hearts.
—Diana, Princess of Wales (1961–97) English Royal, Humanitarian, Peace Activist
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
Kings, in this chiefly, should imitate God; their mercy should be above all their works.
—William Penn (1644–1718) American Entrepreneur, Philosopher, Political Leader
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
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
Uneasy lies the head that wears a crown.
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616) British Playwright
Don’t forget your great guns, which are the most respectable arguments of the rights of kings.
—Frederick II of Prussia (1712–86) King of Prussia, Military Strategist
He that can work is born to be king of something.
—Thomas Carlyle (1795–1881) Scottish Historian, Essayist
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