“I am, indeed, a king, because I know how to rule myself.”

“I love you, and because I love you, I would sooner have you hate me for telling you the truth than adore me for telling you lies.”

“They merit more praise who know how to suffer misery than those who temper themselves with contentment.”

“let us love winter, for it is the spring of genuis.”

“If you want to annoy your neighbors, tell the truth about them.”

“I must also be criticised. I am not afraid if the criticism concerns what I do wrong, because then I know. Because if you say the king cannot be criticised, it means that the king is not human.”

“To be alone, but to be pierced through with a kingly joy, now and then, as I believe I am, is a great possession indeed.”