Ben Jonson Quotes

It is not a sign of arrogance for the king to rule. That is what he is there for.

I would rather risk my Crown than do what I think personally disgraceful ... it is impossible that the nation shall not stand by me; if they will not, they shall have another King.

If my acceptance of the office of Governor would serve my country, though my administration would be attended with the loss of personal credit and reputation, I would cheerfully undertake it.

To be a king and wear a crown is a thing more glorious to them that see it than it is pleasant to them that bear it.

The king must sometimes govern by acts of state as well as acts of law.

I own frankly now that I am to engage, that what I may do may be reckoned and will be reckoned desperate. All appearances seem to be against me. Interest, prudence, and the obligations to you which I lie under, will prevent most people in my situation from taking a resolution that may probably end in my utter ruin. My life, my fortune, my expectations, the happiness of my wife and children are all at stake …, and yet a principle (what seems to me) honour, and my duty to King and Country, outweighs everything.

He made you king to do justice and righteousness.

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

Since it has pleased Providence to place me in this station, I shall do my utmost to fulfill my duty towards my country; I am very young, and perhaps in many, though not in all things, inexperienced, but I am sure, that very few have more real good will and more real desire to do what is fit and right than I have.

Governor Perry taught me how to be a good man and to be a good husband. Not only does he have to take care of his own family, but the state of Texas.

I have been humbled by my first two weeks in office.

A King should sacrifice the best affections of his heart for the good of his country; no sacrifice should be above his determination.

I did not become president to be popular. To work, to lead, to protect and preserve our country, our people, that is why I became president.

A true king is neither husband nor father; he considers his throne and nothing else.

My father was a Tuskegee Airmen captain in the Air Force and a very strong personality. He believed in fairness and ethics and living up to the commitments you make to others. He ultimately became a judge, and he would talk to me over and over about how important it is to be fair.

Our people expect the best of us. They send us to take care of the people's business, and those of us who take hold of that responsibility understand that's what it's really about.

My nomination to be Governor was not to gratify ambition.

I plan on being a friend, a good leader and a good governor over these next three years.

A leader is one who, out of madness or goodness, volunteers to take upon himself the woe of the people. There are few men so foolish, hence the erratic quality of leadership in the world.

I want to tell you ladies and gentlemen, the actions that we took were not always easy. The actions that we took were not always popular. But when you get yourself in public office, you must lead, you must do what's necessary.

An awful lot of fantasy, and even some great fantasy, falls into the mistake of assuming that a good man will be a good king, that all that is necessary is to be a decent human being and when you're king everything will go swimmingly.

I will treat everyone equally and be a servant of the Egyptian people.

Lincoln's leadership is based on a number of precepts, but my favorite one is that he acted in the name, and for the good, of the people.

Leadership to me means duty, honor, country. It means character, and it means listening from time to time.

A people may let a king fall and still remain a people, but if a king let his people slip from him, he is no longer a king.