C H R I S T I N A

Queen of Sweden
Maxims
Selected and Edited by
BASIL GENTLEMAN
First published in 2013
10 ! " # $ % 3 2 1
C&p'ri(ht ) B*sil Gentle+*n 2013
ASIN, B00EFM"G-I
A B . / T T H E A / T H . R
BASIL GENTLEMAN 0*s b&rn in 1!# *nd edu1*ted *t the L'12e Intern*ti&n*l de S*int3
Ger+*in3en3L*'e ne*r 4*ris *nd the L'12e Fr*n5*is Ch*rles de G*ulle in L&nd&n6 His
tr*nsl*ti&ns in1lude My Thoughts b' M&ntes7uieu *nd Maxims and Reflections b'
8*u9en*r(ues6
C . N T E N T S
Maxims
Glossary:
Bibliography
*This section contains endnotes indicated throughout by a star
M A - I M S

This wor! is by one who neither desires nor fears anything and who in no wise wishes to
impose on anyone"
#
A prin1e +ust thin; &< hi+sel< *s * sl*9e 1r&0ned b' the pe&ple6
$
I< prin1es ;ne0 their duties n& &ne 0&uld 0ish t& be &ne6
%
=e *re *l+&st *l0*'s 1hildren> but 0e 1h*n(e &ur (*+es *nd &ur t&'s6
&
T& &be' n& &ne is * (re*ter h*ppiness th*n t& 1&++*nd the 0h&le 0&rld6
'
It re7uires +&re 1&ur*(e t& +*rr' th*n t& (& t& 0*r6
(
Ene+ies *re *l0*'s sin1ere in their h*te> th&u(h <riends *re n&t in their l&9e6
)
?e*th is the 1&ns&ler &< *ll +iser' *nd *ll +is<&rtune6
*
S&+e pe&ple *re <&&lish en&u(h t& be1&+e sl*9es *nd +*rt'rs t& their 1l&thes *nd t&
<*shi&n> *nd *re unh*pp' i< the' d& n&t spend their d*'s bet0een the +irr&r *nd the 1&+b6
+
I< 0e t&&; *s +u1h tr&uble t& be (&&d *s 0e d& t& *ppe*r (&&d 0e sh&uld end b' bein( s&6
#,
Sel<3interest is the un;n&0n (&d t& 0h&+ +*n' pe&ple s*1ri<i1e e9er'thin(6
##
Men 1&n1e*l their dise*ses *s i< the' 0ere 1ri+es6
#$
4*tien1e is the 9irtue &< th&se 0h& l*1; either 1&ur*(e &r <&r1e6
#%
The se1ret &< +*;in( the +&st *nn&'in( thin(s *11ept*ble t& &nesel< is t& see in the+ G&d
*nd His 0ill6
#&
=e *re *l0*'s *pprenti1es in the 1r*<t &< li9in(6
#'
=e &u(ht ne9er t& be s*tis<ied 0ith &ursel9es> h&0e9er s*tis<ied &thers +*' see+ 0ith us6
#(
=e sh&uld *l0*'s tr' t& surp*ss &ursel9es6 This &11up*ti&n 0ill l*st &ur li9es &ut6
#)
There *re thin(s 0hi1h 0e sh&uld neither d& n&r s*'@ there *re &thers 0e sh&uld d& *nd n&t
s*'@ &thers *(*in 0e sh&uld s*' *nd n&t d&@ 'et &thers th*t 0e sh&uld d& *nd s*' 0ith&ut
hesit*ti&n6
#*
4le*sures <*ti(ue +&re th*n business6
#+
T& 1&n7uer &nesel< is t& triu+ph &9er &neAs +&st p&0er<ul ene+'6
$,
Th&se 0h& d& n&t l&9e re*din( depri9e the+sel9es &< the +&st use<ul &< ple*sures6
$#
=e sh&uld 1ulti9*te &ur s&uls r*ther th*n t&r+ent &ur b&dies6
$$
The +*n 0*s trul' 0ise 0h& 0ished neither t& &be' n&r t& 1&++*nd6
$%
Gre*t <riendship is *s r*re *s (re*t l&9e6
$&
=e +ust p*rd&n &ur ene+ies> &ur <riends> &ursel9es@ but it is +&re di<<i1ult t& p*rd&n
&ursel9es th*n &thers6
$'
He*lth *nd +&ne' eBist t& be spent6
$(
=e *re n&t +*de inn&1ent in &rder th*t 0e +*' re+*in i(n&r*nt6
$)
The de*d h*9e * s*d *d9*nt*(e &9er the li9in(> <&r the' *re the <irst t& <&r(et6
$*
.ne sh&uld li9e 0ith +en *s 0ith si1; pe&ple <r&+ 0h&+ &ne endures e9er'thin(6
$+
=e &u(ht t& be her&i1*ll' indi<<erent t& *ll th*t h*ppens 3 but the indi<<eren1e +ust be
her&i1> n&t stupid6
%,
4*tien1e usurps *ll the +erit &< ne1essit'6
%#
H*ppiness d&es n&t lie in the &pini&n &< &thers6
%$
In the 0&rld 0e +ust (et *11ust&+ed t& seein( the <&&lish th&u(ht 1le9er> the 1&0*rds
br*9e> the 0i1;ed (&&d6 =e *re &nl' n&9i1es in li9in( i< 0e (r&0 *n(r' &9er this6
%%
The +*n is 0&rth n&thin( 0h& d&es n&t pre<er dut' t& ple*sure6
%&
=e sh&uld be in1&ns&l*ble in d'in( i< 0e did n&t *(e6
%'
T& be en9i&us &r Ce*l&us &< * pers&n is t& *1;n&0led(e his +erit6
%(
H&pe is * p*ssi&n th*t e9&;es the <*lsest ple*sures *nd the truest p*ins6
%)
It is 0ell t& re+e+ber th*t 9*in pe&ple 1*n ne9er be trusted6
%*
=e sh&uld +*;e n& 1&+p*ris&ns <&r <e*r &< d&in( *n inCusti1e t& &thers &r t& &ursel9es6
%+
Men &nl' shed their *+biti&n 0ith their s;in6
&,
=e +ust p*rd&n e9er'thin( t& +en &< (re*t spirit *nd (re*t he*rt> <&r t& h*9e (re*t spirit *nd
(re*t he*rt is t& h*9e +erit6
&#
A +*n &< (re*t *bilit' 1*n neither ple*se * <&&l n&r l&9e hi+6
&$
=e*;ness is the (re*test &< +is<&rtunes *nd the (re*test &< de<e1ts6
&%
The <*+ili*rit' 0hi1h breeds 1&nte+pt in us <&r s&+e pe&ple breeds in us respe1t <&r &thers6
&&
=e sh&uld ne9er belie9e *n'thin( 0e h*9e n&t d*red t& d&ubt6
&'
T& +*;e se1rets &< tri<les is t& +*;e &nesel< ridi1ul&us6
&(
Dn&0led(e &< the p*st is &< (re*t help <&r the <uture6
&)
Th&se 0h& d& n&t ple*se seld&+ de1ei9e6
&*
=e sh&uld r*ther <e*r th&se 0e l&9e th*n th&se 0e h*te6
&+
Men *l0*'s e'e 0ith dis*ppr&b*ti&n the thin(s the' *re un*ble t& d&6
',
T& su<<er <&r 0ell d&in( is in itsel< * ;ind &< re1&+pense6
'#
N& &ne thin;s hi+sel< insulted b' the ;i1; &< * h&rse &r *n *ss@ 0e &u(ht t& h*9e * li;e
1&nte+pt <&r th&se 0h& despise us> n& +*tter h&0 the' sh&0 it6
'$
The p*st sh&uld 1&unt *s n&thin(> 0e sh&uld *l0*'s li9e *t ne0 1&sts6
'%
N*ture seld&+ +*;es * her& *nd F&rtune d&es n&t *l0*'s pr&1l*i+ th&se th*t she +*;es6
'&
It is the st*r n&t the +erit th*t (i9es the reput*ti&n6
''
T& l&se &11*si&ns &< distin(uishin( &nesel< is * (re*t l&ss6
'(
The b&d' +ust be subdued *nd tre*ted *s * sl*9e> but *s * sl*9e deser9in( &< 1h*rit'6
')
=e sh&uld ne9er spe*; &< &ursel9es either in pr*ise &r bl*+e6
'*
T& pr*iseA *n'&ne either +&re &r less th*n he deser9es is t& betr*' truth6
'+
It is +&re di<<i1ult t& d& e9il th*n t& d& (&&d6
(,
C&ns1ien1e is the &nl' +irr&r 0hi1h neither <l*tters n&r de1ei9es6
(#
M*n is n&t +*de <&r ple*sure but ple*sure <&r +*n6
($
=e l&9e th&se t& 0h&+ 0e h*9e d&ne (&&d *nd h*te th&se t& 0h&+ 0e h*9e d&ne e9il6
(%
=e sh&uld be +&re +iserl' 0ith &ur ti+e th*n 0ith &ur +&ne'6
(&
Eust *s * pil&t +*r;s the r&1;s &n 0hi1h he h*s +*de ship0re1;> s& &u(ht 0e t& +*r; &ur
<*ults in &rder t& *9&id the+6
('
=e d& n&t *l0*'s l&9e 0h*t 0e estee+> but 0e *l0*'s estee+ 0h*t 0e l&9e6
((
The +erit &< the d&er (i9es the 9*lue t& the *1ti&n6
()
.9er s'+p*thies *nd *ntip*thies the re*s&n h*s n& p&0er6
(*
F&&ls *re +&re t& be <e*red th*n 9ill*ins6
(+
The se1ret &< +*;in( &nesel< ridi1ul&us is t& plu+e &nesel< &n the t*lents 0hi1h &ne d&es
n&t p&ssess@ 0e +*' de1ei9e e9er'&ne but &ursel9es6
),
Bene<its sh&uld be s1*ttered *t r*nd&+ li;e 1&rn in * <ield6
)#
T& be under *n &bli(*ti&n t& th&se &ne l&9es is *n *(ree*ble ser9itude6
)$
=e sh&uld enC&' e9er'thin( 0ith&ut s1ruple *nd surrender e9er'thin( 0ith&ut p*in6
)%
=e sh&uld <&r(et the p*st> endure &r enC&' the present> *nd resi(n &ursel9es t& the <uture6
)&
T& eBpe1t the re1&(niti&n &< bene<its is *l+&st t& +erit in(r*titude6
)'
Cust&+ +*;es us insensible t& *l+&st e9er'thin(6
)(
The +&st be*uti<ul &< *ll &ris&ns is th*t &< silen1e *nd l&9e6 G&d *l&ne underst*nds su1h
l*n(u*(e6 The +*C&rit' &< +en h*9e n& eBperien1e &< su1h pr*'er6
))
H'p&1ris' is the 4r&teus th*t *ssu+es * th&us*nd <&r+s> the 1h*+ele&n 0hi1h *d&pts *
th&us*nd hues6:
)*
Le*rnin( t& despise &nesel< is the &nl' thin( t& be (*ined <r&+ sinnin(6
)+
=e sh&uld be the <irst t& <&r(et th*t 0e h*9e e9er d&ne *n' (&&d6
*,
I< G&d d&esnAt eBist> 9irtue *nd h&n&ur *re but illusi&ns6
*#
.ld *(e is +&re terrible th*n de*th> but it 1&ns&les +en <&r d'in(6
*$
Men t*l; +&re th*n be*sts> but it is 7uesti&n*ble 0hether the' *re +&re 0ise6
*%
The &nl' dut' &< * pre*1her is t& ;indle the l&9e &< G&d in +*n6
*&
H&0e9er *(ree*ble *nd (l&ri&us li<e +*' be> 0e sh&uld be 9er' unh*pp' i< it did n&t end6
*'
Li<e 0&uld be little *nd de*th n&thin( i< the s&ul 0ere n&t i++&rt*l6
*(
The 0&rld sh&uld be l&&;ed up&n *s *n inn> in 0hi1h 0e *bide but * <e0 h&urs6
*)
E9er' +*n 0h& <e*rs de*th is in1*p*ble &< (re*t *1ti&n6
**
I< the he*rt is n&t r&'*l> there is n& r&'*lt'6
*+
There *re pe&ple t& 0h&+ e9er'thin( is ri(ht 3 *nd <&r 0h&+ e9er'thin( is ri(ht6
+,
Ch*n(e is the re+ed' <&r +*n' &< the ills &< li<e6
+#
The p*tien1e &< Epi1tetus *nd the brut*lit' &< his +*ster *re e7u*ll' insupp&rt*ble6:
+$
.ne ne9er <&r(ets 0h*t &ne l&9es6
+%
=e +*' e*sil' be her&es &r s*ints in the &pini&n &< &thers> but 0e +ust
be s*ints *<ter G&dAs <*shi&n6
+&
The p*ssi&ns *re the s*lt &< li<e@ 0e *re neither h*pp' n&r unh*pp' eB1ept in their eBer1ise6
+'
C&unsel is n&t 1&++*nd6
+(
The se* is the s'+b&l &< (re*t s&uls6 H&0e9er *(it*ted +*' be its sur<*1e its depths *re
*l0*'s 1*l+6
+)
T& belie9e e9er'thin( is 0e*;ness> t& belie9e n&thin( <&ll'6
+*
?esp*ir is pride 3 * se1ret *nd 1ri+in*l presu+pti&n6 =e *re ne9er +&re <ree th*n 0hen 0e
depend &n G&d6
++
B' 0h*te9er (*te 0e enter Eternit'> it is * triu+ph*l *r1h6
#,,
G&d &rders +en t& l&9e Hi+ +&re th*n the+sel9es> 0hi1h pr&9es th*t sel<3l&9e is n&t
1ri+in*l 3 *s s&+e h*9e s*id6
#,#
I< 0e 0ere n&t i(n&r*nt 0e sh&uld neither (r&0 &ld n&r si1;6 B&th ills h*9e their re+edies
&< 0hi1h 0e *re i(n&r*nt6
#,$
There is n& 1&nditi&n 0hi1h +*' n&t be (l&ri<ied b' &ur *1ti&ns &r &ur su<<erin(s6
#,%
There is n& est*te in 0hi1h (&&d *nd e9il d& n&t b*l*n1e e*1h &ther6
#,&
C&ns1ien1e (i9es n& 7u*rter6
#,'
The (re*test pr&<it 0e (et <r&+ stud' is le*rnin( n&t t& be unbe*r*ble t& &ursel9es6
#,(
There *re +&+ents in 0hi1h G&d 1&++uni1*tes Hi+sel< t& the s&ul in s& ine<<*ble *nd
in1&+prehensible * +*nner *s t& +*;e &ne <&r(et the 0h&le 0&rld6
#,)
Th&se 0h& &nl' 0ish t& be ;n&0n &< G&d h*9e n& need &< dire1t&rs6 The n*+e &<
Fdire1t&rG +ust be insupp&rt*ble t& *n' pers&n &< spirit6
#,*
All s1ruples 1e*se 0hen in (&&d <*ith &ne surrenders &nesel< t& G&d6
#,+
True reli(i&n 1&nsists in l&9in( G&d *nd &ur nei(hb&ur6 All the rest is pl*'3*1tin(6
G L . S S A R H
1 4r&teus, in Gree; M'th&l&(' 4r&teus 0*s * se* (&d 0h& 1h*n(ed his sh*pe *t 0ill6
2 Epi1tetus, * Gree; s*(e *nd st&i1 phil&s&pher I$$J13$ A?K6 He spent his '&uth *s * sl*9e
in R&+e t& Ep*phr&dit&s> * 0e*lth' <reed+*n *nd se1ret*r' t& the e+per&r Ner&6 ?urin( *
punish+ent in 0hi1h Ep*phr&dit&s 0*s t0istin( Epi1tetusA le(> Epi1tetus 0*rned his +*ster
th*t his le( 0*s *b&ut t& bre*;6 =hen it <in*ll' did> Epi1tetus s*id FI t&ld '&u6G
B I B L I . G R A 4 H H
Maxims of a Queen> Christin*> Lueen &< S0eden J F&r(&tten B&&;s 2012