Catherine de Medici

"The greatest art is the art of knowing when to stop."

"To be powerful is to be lonely, and to be lonely is to be powerful."

"I trust in the stars, but I also trust in my own calculations."

"A mother's love is the only force that does not diminish with use."

"The true measure of power is not what you can take, but what you can give."

"I have learned that destiny favors those who act as if they believe in it."

"The greatest wisdom is knowing the limits of your own knowledge."

"One must learn to read people as one reads books."

"A kingdom is only as strong as its women are wise."

"I have found that revenge is best served to those who expect forgiveness."

"The invisible hand that guides the kingdom is often a woman's hand."

"To love is to give your enemy a weapon; to not love is to become one."

"I have learned that the future belongs to those who understand the past."

"A truly powerful person makes others believe they are powerful."

"The stars may guide us, but we must walk the path ourselves."

"Every flower has thorns; every throne has shadows."

"I prefer the company of books to the company of fools."

"The greatest revenge is living well while your enemies watch."

"A woman who knows her worth cannot be purchased or sold."

"I have learned that time is the only judge whose verdict cannot be appealed."

"The heart is a traitor that must be guarded constantly."

"I have lost two sons, yet I remain standing. This is the price of power."

"Beauty fades, but influence endures through generations."

"A woman who masters her household masters kingdoms."

"Patience is the art of waiting without losing one's mind."

"I learned that power without mercy is merely tyranny."

"The greatest weapon is not the sword, but the ability to listen."

"Time reveals all truths that men wish to hide."

"A mother's love is the only force stronger than ambition."

"I have seen kingdoms fall because men forgot to question themselves."