Cardinal Richelieu

“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.”

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

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

“He who has the power has the right.”

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

“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.”

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

“I have the consolation of leaving your kingdom in the highest degree of glory and of reputation.”