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."

—Cardinal Richelieu (1585-1642)

"Reason must be the universal rule and guide; all things must be done according to reason without allowing oneself to be swayed by emotion."

—Cardinal Richelieu (1585-1642)

"First, all means to conciliate; failing that, all means to crush."

—Cardinal Richelieu (1585-1642)

"Nothing is as dangerous for the state as those who would govern kingdoms with maxims found in books."

—Cardinal Richelieu (1585-1642)

"If God forbade drinking, would He have made wine so good?"

—Cardinal Richelieu (1585-1642)

"Harshness towards individuals who flout the laws and commands of the state is for the public good; no greater crime against the public interest is possible than to show leniency to those who violate it."

—Cardinal Richelieu (1585-1642)

"Never write a letter and never destroy one."

—Cardinal Richelieu (1585-1642)

"Nothing so upholds the laws as the punishment of persons whose rank is as great as their crime."

—Cardinal Richelieu (1585-1642)

"Carry on any enterprise as if all future success depended on it."

—Cardinal Richelieu (1585-1642)

"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."

—Cardinal Richelieu (1585-1642)

"Deception is the knowledge of kings."

—Cardinal Richelieu (1585-1642)

"To mislead a rival, deception is permissable; one may use all means against his enemies."

—Cardinal Richelieu (1585-1642)

"Had Luther and Calvin been confined before they had begun to dogmatize, the states would have been spared many troubles."

—Cardinal Richelieu (1585-1642)

"We may employ artifice to deceive a rival, anything against our enemies."

—Cardinal Richelieu (1585-1642)