“I am saddened by the case of Constantinople, this journey was so well served to you, and you have spoiled it with a childishness. (King Leopold I In a letter to his son Prince Leopold II)” Leopold IiBelgiumLeopold I Author:Leopold I
“It is not for us that we exhort you to learn, but for yourself, because ignorance is an inability, a real disaster, because social positions and protection are no longer there as before, there is a ground for malice and even hatred. (King Leopold I In a letter to his son Prince Leopold II)” Leopold IiBelgiumLeopold Ii Of BelgiumLeopold I Of Belgium Author:Leopold I
“Palmerston likes to put his foot on their necks! Now, no statesman must triumph over an enemy that is not quite dead, because people forget a real loss, a real misfortune, but they won’t forget an insult. Napoleon made great mistakes that way; he hated Prussia, insulted it on all occasions, but still left it alive. The consequence was that in 1813 they rose to a man in Prussia, even children and women took arms, because they had been treated with contempt and insulted.” FranceBelgiumPrussiaNapoleonLeopold IPalmerston Author:Leopold I
“My fate is bound up with that of England, and whatever befalls the green isle, I shall not easily abandon it.” EnglandBelgiumUnited KingdomLeopold ILeopold I Of BelgiumKing Leopold I Author:Leopold I
“If we had some sense here other than to quarrel for miserable places we should buy some of the colonies of the Portuguese, it would do an immense amount of good for many of our young officers who we have no means of employing usefully, we want elbow room and it is not probable we shall get it in Europe.” BelgiumPortugalQueen VictoriaLeopold ILeopold I Of Belgium Author:Leopold I
“Constitutional government, especially in a small country, takes a great deal of time, and causes sight to be lost of the questions, which lone can secure to the country a political future. I have many a time that I saw you feeling more and more interest therein, and I am very anxious that it should be so, for it is time to be seriously occupied with those questions; otherwise Belgium will find herself at the tail of all other countries. I have heard that an association of German princes is actively occupied in an attempt at colonization in Texas…” United StatesGermanyTexasColonialismBelgiumColonizationLeopold ILeopold I Of Belgium Author:Leopold I
“The sedition mongers are not numerous, but they frighten the peaceful majority, who, although it can be really strong, feels a veritable panic before this agitating force in the shadows? It is in this fear that lies the principal danger, and it would be in the veritable interest of the welfare of Europe that the Powers could show that the necessary force to support and defend the right is not still lacking to them.” EuropeBelgiumLeopold ILeopold I Of BelgiumConcert Of Europe Author:Leopold I
“Certainly all those who possess something and who have at heart to see the legal situation subsist, ought to feel that the moment has come to defend itself against the complete dissolution of society in Europe, which dissolution is to lead to most frightful anarchy....may all the measures that you take be crowned with success, that is my heartiest desire...” BelgiumLeopold ILeopold I Of Belgium Author:Leopold I
“Abuse is somewhat the staff of life in England everything, everybody is to be abused; it is a pity, as nothing more unproductive as this everlasting abuse can be imagined. As nothing ever gave the slightest opening to this abuse, it is hoped that it will be soon got over the meeting of Parliament will now do good in this respect. As far as your few continental relatives are concerned, I don’t think they will be able to fix anything upon your faithful servant. I have done in England at all times good services… Successes of vanity, I am never fishing for in England, nor anywhere else. The only influence I may exercise is to prevent mischief where I can, which occasionally succeeds: if war can be avoided, and the same ends obtained, it is natural that they should be tried first…” EnglandGreat BritainBelgiumUnited KingdomLeopold ILeopold I Of Belgium Author:Leopold I
“Should it not, this essentially producing country, search all parts of the globe and seek to fight with other nations, by exploring in advance the countries likely to favor industries, by studying local needs and resources, by indicating the nature and time of the shipments to be made, etc.?” BelgiumBelgian Colonial EmpireBelgian Navy Author:Alexis Henri Brialmont