Laws are the sovereigns of sovereigns.

I see no point in reading.

First feelings are always the most natural.

One king, one law, one faith.

Every time I fill a vacant office, I make ten malcontents and one ingrate.

Up to this moment I have been pleased to entrust the government of my affairs to the late Cardinal. It is now time that I govern them myself. You [secretaries and ministers of state] will assist me with your counsels when I ask for them. I request and order you to seal no orders except by my command, . . . I order you not to sign anything, not even a passport . . . without my command; to render account to me personally each day and to favor no one.

Heaven deprives me of a wife who never caused me any other grief than that of her death.