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Monthly Archives: August 2006

On life experience in politics:

“I have had good experience and trial of this world: I know what it is to be a subject, what to be a sovereign; what to have good neighbors, and sometime meet evil willers. I have found treason in trust, seen great benefits little regarded, and instead of gratefulness, courses of purpose to be cross.”

On the importance of education:

“No path is more direct, either to gain good fortune or to procure my grace, than diligently, in your studies which you have begun, to stick to your work; and that you do this, I pray and beseech you all.”

On appointing government officials based on merit:

“[F]or the course of justice, I protest that I never knew difference of persons–that I never set one before another but upon just cause, neither have preferred any to office or some other place or ruling for the preferrer’s sake, but that I knew or was made to believe he was worthy and fit for [...]

On international spaces:

“The sea, as well as the air, is a free and common thing to all; and a particular nation cannot pretend to have the right to the exclusion of all others, without violating the rights of nature and public usage.”

On scientific and cultural progress:

“[S]ince the creation of the world, we see that just as the days and months increase and multiply, so similarly, little by little, by succession of time the mind of man is more ingenious and inventive, more adorned and polished, than it formerly was.”

On government budgets:

“No prince’s revenues be so great that they are able to satisfy the insatiable cupidity of men.”

On good leaders:

“. . . What a family is without a steward, a ship without a pilot, a flock without a shepherd, a body without a head, the same, I think, is a kingdom without the health and safety of a good monarch.”

On the need for political unity:

“Finally, be of one mind, for you know that unity is the stronger, disunity the weaker and quick to fall into ruin.”

On the extradition of criminals:

“And whereas you offer to send me any traitor of mine residing in your land, I shall not fail but expect th’accomplishment of the same in case any such shall be. . . .”

On the costs of military action:

“[I]f you compare the time that is run on and the excessive charges that is [are] spent with the effects of anything wrought by this voyage . . . yet you must needs think that we have the eyes of foreign princes upon our actions and have the hearts of the people to comfort and [...]