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

- Cardinal Richelieu

Give me six lines written by the most honorable person alive, and I shall find enough in them to condemn them to the gallows.

- Cardinal Richelieu

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

- Cardinal Richelieu

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 accust…

- Cardinal Richelieu

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…

- Cardinal Richelieu

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

- Cardinal Richelieu

Deception is the knowledge of kings.

- Cardinal Richelieu

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

- Cardinal Richelieu

Secrecy is the first essential in affairs of state.

- Cardinal Richelieu