Cardinal Richelieu Quotations

I do not sleep to let others sleep in the shade of my waking.

Nothing is as dangerous for the state as those who would govern kingdoms with maxims found in books.

One must believe neither the people of the palace, who ordinarily measure the power of the king by the shape of his crown, which, being round, has no end, nor those who, in the excesses of an indiscreet zeal, proclaim themselves openly as partisans of Rome.

Did you think I was immortal?

Carry on any enterprise as if all future success depended on it.

When people are too comfortable, it is not possible to restrain them within the bounds of their duty? They may be compared to mules who, being accustomed to burdens, are spoilt by rest rather than labour.

War is one of the scourges with which it has pleased God to afflict men.

To know how to disguise is the knowledge of kings.

Not the least of the qualities that go into the making of a great ruler is the ability of letting others serve him.

We may employ artifice to deceive a rival, anything against our enemies.