Cardinal Richelieu

“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.”

“It is a common fault of men to pay more regard to the greatness of their designs than to the means of execution.”

“Treason is a matter of dates.”

“War is one of the scourges with which it has pleased God to afflict men.”

“It is necessary to listen to everything and to believe nothing.”

“Great undertakings are not completed by chance, but by preparation.”

“War is one of the scourges with which it has pleased God to afflict men.”

“Secrecy is the first essential in affairs of state.”

“I have never had any other enemies than those of the state.”

“He who has the power has the right.”

“Give me twenty-six soldiers of lead and I will conquer the world.”

“The interest of the state must be the first rule of the prince.”

“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.”

“Treason is a matter of dates.”

“To make a law and not to see it put into execution is to authorize the very thing we forbid.”

“I have never had any other enemies than the enemies of the state.”

“He who has the power, has the right.”

“To make a law and not to see it is enforced is to authorize the thing we forbid.”

“One must sleep on an issue, but not be asleep.”