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To know how to dissemble is the knowledge of kings.

— Cardinal Richelieu

Savoir dissimuler est le savoir des rois.

Original text (French)

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Leadership

More quotes by Cardinal Richelieu

Had Luther and Calvin been confined before they had begun to dogmatize, the states would have been spared many troubles.

The Catholic Encyclopedia (1913)

Secrecy is the first essential in affairs of state.

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

Artifice is allowable in deceiving a rival, we may employ everything against our enemies.

Deception is the knowledge of kings.

All Cardinal Richelieu quotes →

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Attribution

Quote text and notes from Wikiquote: Cardinal Richelieu (page history), available under CC BY-SA 4.0. Source quality and labels are our own summary of what Wikiquote records.