Medieval kings and queens weren’t just rulers—they were philosophers, firebrands, and sometimes comedians. From fierce declarations of justice to surprisingly witty remarks about war and language, these twenty quotes show the sharp minds behind the crowns.
Wisdom and Philosophy
1. “To have another language is to possess a second soul.”
~ Charlemagne, Holy Roman Emperor (768–814). The Frankish ruler believed that learning languages opened up entirely new ways of understanding the world—and oneself.
2. “I desired to live worthily as long as I lived and to leave after my life, to the men who should come after me, the memory of me in good works.”
~ Alfred the Great, King of Wessex (871–899). This quote shows Alfred’s hope for a legacy built not on conquest, but on virtue and good deeds.
3. “Grief is not very different from illness: in the impetus of its fire it does not recognize lords, it does fear not colleagues, it does not respect or spare anyone, nor even itself. Pitiful and pitied by no one, why have I come to ignominy of this detestable old age, who was ruler of two kingdoms, mother of two kings?”
~ Eleanor of Aquitaine, Queen consort of France and England (1137–1189). A raw and powerful lament on how overwhelming grief levels all ranks, even for a queen who once ruled two kingdoms.
4. “The distance is great from the firm belief to the realization from concrete experience.”
~ Isabella I, Queen of Castile and León (1474–1504). Isabella reflects on how difficult it is to translate ideals into action—especially in politics.
5. “The shortest and surest way of arriving at real knowledge is to unlearn the lessons we have been taught, to mount the first principles, and take nobody’s word about them.”
~ Henry IV, King of England (1399–1413). A thought-provoking call to rethink what we take for granted in order to reach true understanding.
6. “Life is like unto a long journey with a heavy burden. Let thy step be slow and steady, that thou stumble not. Persuade thyself that imperfection and inconvenience are the natural lot of mortals, and there will be no room for discontent, neither for despair. When thy heart is not at variance with nature, when thine intellect and judgment are sound and unclouded, then thou shalt find happiness under heaven.”
~ Tokugawa Ieyasu (1543–1616), founder of the Tokugawa shogunate of Japan. Ieyasu reflects on the virtues of patience and perseverance, advising that steady progress and self-restraint are key to enduring success and tranquility.
Power and Politics
7. “Pride defeats its own end, by bringing the man who seeks esteem and reverence into contempt.”
~ Henry IV, King of England (1399–1413). Another quote from this English monarch, this time warning that vanity often backfires, especially for those in power who demand respect.
8. “I would rather have a Scot come from Scotland to govern the people of this kingdom well and justly than that you should govern them ill in the sight of all the world.”
~ Louis IX, King of France (1226–1270) In a harsh lesson to his heir, Louis prioritised justice and competence over birthright.
9. “My liege, I know I am not good enough to be your queen, but I am far too good to become your mistress.”
~ Elizabeth Woodville, Queen of England (1464–1483). Elizabeth defied expectations and asserted her dignity before becoming queen consort to Edward IV.
10. “He who does not know how to dissimulate, cannot reign.”
~ Louis XI, King of France (1461–1483). This cynical remark underlines how deception and diplomacy were seen as essential tools of rule.
11. “Fortune has something of the nature of a woman. If she is too intensely wooed, she commonly goes further away.”
~ Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor (1519–1556). A metaphorical and somewhat humorous reflection on fate, suggesting that fortune resists desperation.
Justice and Leadership
12. “Evil to him who thinks evil.”
~ Edward II, King of England (1307–1327). This phrase doubles as both a chivalric motto and a judgment of others’ intentions.
13. “Burn old wood, read old books, drink old wines, have old friends.”
~ Alfonso X, King of Castile, León, and Galicia (1252–1284). A celebration of tradition and time-tested value, this quote is both poetic and practical.
14. “Let justice be done, though the world perish.”
~ Ferdinand I, Holy Roman Emperor (1521–1564). A powerful expression of moral absolutism: justice must prevail, even if everything else is lost.
15. “Fear not, we are of the nature of the lion, and cannot descend to the destruction of mice and such small beasts.”
~ Elizabeth I, Queen of England (1558–1603). The English queen uses regal metaphor to declare her refusal to engage with petty threats.
16. “With bronze as a mirror, one can correct one’s appearance; with history as a mirror, one can understand the rise and fall of a state; with good men as a mirror, one can distinguish right from wrong.”
~ Emperor Taizong of Tang (626–649). This quote underscores the importance the Chinese ruler placed on self-reflection, historical awareness, and wise counsel in governance, principles that contributed to the prosperity of the Tang dynasty.
Humour and Irony
17. “I would have sold London itself if I could have found a buyer.”
~ Richard I, King of England (1189–1199). A famously blunt comment, made when Richard needed to fund his crusade—demonstrating how even cities had price tags.
18. “How absurd to try to make two men think alike on matters of religion, when I cannot make two time-pieces agree!”
~ Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor (1519–1556). A witty comment on religious diversity and the futility of forced uniformity—even clocks resist alignment.
19. “I speak Spanish to God, Italian to women, French to men, and German to my horse.”
~ Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor (1519–1556). A playful comment on how different languages serve different purposes—infused with cultural stereotypes of the time.
20. “War without fire is like sausages without mustard.”
~ Henry V, King of England (1413–1422). A darkly humorous take from a warrior king who saw destruction as a necessary part of warfare.
Medieval kings and queens weren’t just rulers—they were philosophers, firebrands, and sometimes comedians. From fierce declarations of justice to surprisingly witty remarks about war and language, these twenty quotes show the sharp minds behind the crowns.
Wisdom and Philosophy
~ Charlemagne, Holy Roman Emperor (768–814). The Frankish ruler believed that learning languages opened up entirely new ways of understanding the world—and oneself.
2. “I desired to live worthily as long as I lived and to leave after my life, to the men who should come after me, the memory of me in good works.”
~ Alfred the Great, King of Wessex (871–899). This quote shows Alfred’s hope for a legacy built not on conquest, but on virtue and good deeds.
~ Eleanor of Aquitaine, Queen consort of France and England (1137–1189). A raw and powerful lament on how overwhelming grief levels all ranks, even for a queen who once ruled two kingdoms.
~ Isabella I, Queen of Castile and León (1474–1504). Isabella reflects on how difficult it is to translate ideals into action—especially in politics.
~ Henry IV, King of England (1399–1413). A thought-provoking call to rethink what we take for granted in order to reach true understanding.
~ Tokugawa Ieyasu (1543–1616), founder of the Tokugawa shogunate of Japan. Ieyasu reflects on the virtues of patience and perseverance, advising that steady progress and self-restraint are key to enduring success and tranquility.
Power and Politics
~ Henry IV, King of England (1399–1413). Another quote from this English monarch, this time warning that vanity often backfires, especially for those in power who demand respect.
~ Louis IX, King of France (1226–1270) In a harsh lesson to his heir, Louis prioritised justice and competence over birthright.
~ Elizabeth Woodville, Queen of England (1464–1483). Elizabeth defied expectations and asserted her dignity before becoming queen consort to Edward IV.
~ Louis XI, King of France (1461–1483). This cynical remark underlines how deception and diplomacy were seen as essential tools of rule.
~ Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor (1519–1556). A metaphorical and somewhat humorous reflection on fate, suggesting that fortune resists desperation.
Justice and Leadership
~ Edward II, King of England (1307–1327). This phrase doubles as both a chivalric motto and a judgment of others’ intentions.
~ Alfonso X, King of Castile, León, and Galicia (1252–1284). A celebration of tradition and time-tested value, this quote is both poetic and practical.
~ Ferdinand I, Holy Roman Emperor (1521–1564). A powerful expression of moral absolutism: justice must prevail, even if everything else is lost.
~ Elizabeth I, Queen of England (1558–1603). The English queen uses regal metaphor to declare her refusal to engage with petty threats.
~ Emperor Taizong of Tang (626–649). This quote underscores the importance the Chinese ruler placed on self-reflection, historical awareness, and wise counsel in governance, principles that contributed to the prosperity of the Tang dynasty.
Humour and Irony
~ Richard I, King of England (1189–1199). A famously blunt comment, made when Richard needed to fund his crusade—demonstrating how even cities had price tags.
~ Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor (1519–1556). A witty comment on religious diversity and the futility of forced uniformity—even clocks resist alignment.
~ Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor (1519–1556). A playful comment on how different languages serve different purposes—infused with cultural stereotypes of the time.
~ Henry V, King of England (1413–1422). A darkly humorous take from a warrior king who saw destruction as a necessary part of warfare.
You can find these quotes and many more in Wit and Wisdom of Kings & Queens, by Maria Pritchard, and History in Quotations, by M.J. Cohen.
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