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.

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

Wise judges are we of each other!

Reason must be the universal rule and guide; all things must be done according to reason without allowing oneself to be swayed by emotion.

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

If you give me six lines written by the hand of the most honest of men, I will find something in them which will hang him.

Secrecy is the first essential in affairs of state.