the title of Queen rang sweet to my ears, child though I was. ... This idea of a crown began running in my head then like a tune, and has been running a lot in it ever since.

Praise is the only gift for which people are really grateful. Marguerite, Countess of Blessington I praise loudly; I blame softly.

Experience shows that the frequent use of severe punishment has never rendered a people better. The death of a criminal is a less effective means of restraining crimes than the permanent example of a man deprived of his liberty during the whole of his life to make amends for the injury he has done to the public.

Men make love more intensely at 20, but make love better, however, at 30.

Nothing is more difficult, in my opinion, than to avoid something that fundamentally attracts you.

In my position you have to read when you want to write and to talk when you would like to read.

bad news travels faster than good.