I grieve and dare not show my discontent, I love and yet am forced to seem to hate, I do, yet dare not say I ever meant, I seem stark mute but inwardly do prate. I am and not, I freeze and yet am burned, Since from myself another self I turned. My care is like my shadow in the sun, Follows me flying, flies when I pursue it, Stands and lies by me, doth what I have done.

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

I know I have the body of a weak and feeble woman, but I have the heart and stomach of a king, and of a king of England too.

I have never been able to be so allured by the prospect of advantages or so terrified by misfortunes, swayed by honours or fettered by affection, nay not even so smitten by the fear of death, as to enter upon marriage.

My seat has been the seat of kings, and I will have no rascal to succeed me.

I pray to God that I shall not live one hour after I have thought of using deception.

One man with a head on his shoulders is worth a dozen without.