The first king was a successful soldier;
He who serves well his country has no need of ancestors.
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The first king was a successful soldier;
He who serves well his country has no need of ancestors.
[Fr., Le premier qui fut roi, fut un soldat heureux;
Qui sert bien son pays, n'a pas besoin d'aleux.]

The king reigns but does not govern.
[Fr., Le roi regne, il ne gouverne pas.]

The king reigns but does not govern.
[Fr., Le roi regne, il ne gouverne pas.]

He who knows how to dissimulate knows how to reign.
[Fr., Qui nescit dissimulare, nescit regnare.]

He who knows how to dissimulate knows how to reign.
[Fr., Qui nescit dissimulare, nescit regnare.]

I shall be an autocrat: that's my trade. And the good Lord will
forgive me: that's his.
[Fr., read more

I shall be an autocrat: that's my trade. And the good Lord will
forgive me: that's his.
[Fr., Moi, je serai autocrate: c'est mon metier. Et le bon Dieu
me pardonnnera: c'est son metier.]

And fearless minds climb soonest unto crowns.

And fearless minds climb soonest unto crowns.

Ten poor men sleep in peace on one straw heap, as Saadi sings,
But the immensest empire is too read more

Ten poor men sleep in peace on one straw heap, as Saadi sings,
But the immensest empire is too narrow for two kings.

The rule
Of the many is not well. One must be chief
In war and one the read more

The rule
Of the many is not well. One must be chief
In war and one the king.

O, how wretched
Is that poor man that hangs on princes' favors!
There is betwixt that smile read more

O, how wretched
Is that poor man that hangs on princes' favors!
There is betwixt that smile we would aspire to,
That sweet aspect of princes, and their ruin,
More pangs and fears than wars or women have;
And when he falls, he falls like Lucifer,
Never to hope again.

That man is deceived who thinks it slavery to live under an
excellent prince. Never does liberty appear in read more

That man is deceived who thinks it slavery to live under an
excellent prince. Never does liberty appear in a more gracious
form than under a pious king.
[Lat., Fallitur egregio quisquis sub principe credet
Servitutem. Nunquam libertas gratior extat
Quam sub rege pio.]