If there were two princes in Christendom who had good will and courage, it would be very easy to reconcile the religious difficulties; there is only one Jesus Christ and one faith, and all the rest is a dispute over trifles.

I regret the unhappiness of princes who are slaves to forms and fettered by caution.

I would rather be a beggar and single than a queen and married.

I am no lover of pompous title, but only desire that my name may be recorded in a line or two, which shall briefly express my name, my virginity, the years of my reign, the reformation of religion under it, and my preservation of peace.

If I follow the inclination of my nature, it is this: beggar-woman and single, far rather than queen and married.

He who placed me in this seat will keep me here.

The past cannot be cured.