Louis XIV

Sun King of France

Early Modern influential 53 sayings

Sayings by Louis XIV

I will give an account to God alone.

c. 1670s — Expressing his belief in divine right and accountability only to God.
Strange & Unusual Unverifiable

To govern well, one must be master of oneself.

c. 1680s — A principle of self-control and discipline for a ruler.
Strange & Unusual Unverifiable

I have nothing to do with the people.

Unknown, but attributed. — Reported to express his distance from the common populace, focusing on the nobility and the state.
Strange & Unusual Unverifiable

The greatest act of a prince is to keep his word.

c. 1670s — A statement on the importance of integrity in governance.
Strange & Unusual Unverifiable

I have always regarded the good of the state as my own.

c. 1660s — Aligning his personal interest with that of the kingdom.
Strange & Unusual Unverifiable

One must make oneself feared, but not hated.

c. 1680s — A pragmatic approach to maintaining power.
Strange & Unusual Unverifiable

I know what I owe to my rank, but I know also what I owe to myself.

Unknown, but attributed. — Balancing royal duty with personal identity.
Strange & Unusual Unverifiable

It is a great misfortune to be born a king.

c. 1690s — A moment of reflection on the burdens of kingship.
Strange & Unusual Unverifiable

The art of governing consists in knowing how to choose.

c. 1670s — Highlighting the importance of selecting good advisors and policies.
Strange & Unusual Unverifiable

I have always sought to make my people happy.

c. 1700s — A claim about his benevolent intentions as a ruler.
Strange & Unusual Unverifiable

I am the first servant of the state.

c. 1660s — A statement of duty, similar to Frederick the Great's later pronouncements.
Strange & Unusual Unverifiable

One must never despair.

Unknown, but attributed. — A general maxim of perseverance.
Strange & Unusual Unverifiable

I have always loved glory.

c. 1670s — A core motivation for his actions and policies.
Strange & Unusual Unverifiable

The greatest pleasure is to give pleasure to others.

c. 1680s — A statement on generosity or the satisfaction of pleasing courtiers/subjects.
Strange & Unusual Unverifiable

I have always sought to do justice to everyone.

c. 1700s — A claim about his commitment to fairness in his rule.
Strange & Unusual Unverifiable

It is by labor that one reigns.

c. 1660s — Emphasizing the hard work involved in kingship.
Strange & Unusual Unverifiable

I have always been a master of my passions.

c. 1690s — A claim of self-control and discipline.
Strange & Unusual Unverifiable

One must make one's subjects happy, but without letting them feel it.

Unknown, but attributed. — A nuanced approach to governance, combining benevolence with control.
Strange & Unusual Unverifiable

I have always preferred the counsel of a single man to that of many.

c. 1670s — Reflecting his preference for concentrated authority and perhaps a trusted advisor.
Strange & Unusual Unverifiable

The greatest pleasure is to see one's projects succeed.

c. 1680s — Expressing satisfaction in achieving his goals.
Strange & Unusual Unverifiable