Uneasy lies the head that wears a crown.

If you have but a single ruler, you lie at the discretion of a master who has no reason to love you: and if you have several, you must bear at once their tyranny and their divisions.

Where princes are concerned, a man who is able to do good is as dangerous and almost as criminal as a man who intends to do evil.

The power of kings is founded on the reason and on the folly of the people, and specially on their folly.

To rule is not so much a question of the heavy hand as the firm seat.

Rigorous authority and justice are the kindness of kings.

We owe subjection and obedience to all our kings, whether good or bad, alike, for that has respect unto their office; but as to esteem and affection, these are only due to their virtue.

He that would govern others, first should be The master of himself.

A doubtful throne is ice on summer seas.

Ill can he rule the great that cannot reach the small.

Whom hatred frights, Let him not dream on sovereignty.

To appear at church every Sunday; to look down upon, and let himself be looked at for an hour by the congregation, is the best means of becoming popular which can be recommended to a young sovereign.

The art of governing is a great metier, requiring the whole man, and it is therefore not well for a ruler to have too strong tendencies for other affairs.

The subject's love is the king's best guard.

Power educates the potentate.

Those who see and observe kings, heroes, and statesmen, discover that they have headaches, indigestion, humors and passions, just like other people; every one of which in their turns determine their wills in defiance of their reason.

Princes are like heavenly bodies, which cause good or evil times, and which have much veneration, but no rest.

If men think that a ruler is religious and has a reverence for the Gods, they are less afraid of suffering injustice at his hands.

Every ruler is harsh whose rule is new.

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