Cardinal Richelieu
Cardinal Richelieu
Armand Jean du Plessis, Cardinal-Duke of Richelieu and of Fronsac, commonly referred to as Cardinal Richelieuʁiʃljø]), was a French clergyman, nobleman, and statesman. He was consecrated as a bishop in 1607 and was appointed Foreign Secretary in 1616. Richelieu soon rose in both the Catholic Church and the French government, becoming a cardinal in 1622, and King Louis XIII's chief minister in 1624. He remained in office until his death in 1642; he was succeeded by Cardinal Mazarin, whose career...
NationalityFrench
ProfessionReligious Leader
Date of Birth9 September 1585
CityParis, France
CountryFrance
When people are too comfortable, it is not possible to restrain them within the bounds of their duty? They may be compared to mules who, being accustomed to burdens, are spoilt by rest rather than labour.
A virtuous and well-disposed person, like a good metal, the more he is fired, the more he is fined; the more he is opposed, the more he is approved: wrongs may well try him, and touch him, but cannot imprint in him any false stamp.
I do not sleep to let others sleep in the shade of my waking.
One must believe neither the people of the palace, who ordinarily measure the power of the king by the shape of his crown, which, being round, has no end, nor those who, in the excesses of an indiscreet zeal, proclaim themselves openly as partisans of Rome.
Did you think I was immortal?
To know how to disguise is the knowledge of kings.
Not the least of the qualities that go into the making of a great ruler is the ability of letting others serve him.
Secrecy is the first essential in affairs of state.
To mislead a rival, deception is permissable; one may use all means against his enemies.
Wise judges are we of each other!
I have the consolation of leaving your kingdom in the highest degree of glory and of reputation.
First, all means to conciliate; failing that, all means to crush.
Reason must be the universal rule and guide; all things must be done according to reason without allowing oneself to be swayed by emotion.
Who will be my equal?