George VI in the conventional parlance was a Good King who sacrificed his life to his sense of duty. If we are to have monarchs it would be hard to find a better one.
There are important arguments to be made about the relative merits of an hereditary or an elected head of state: but not at the level of the human frailties of particular monarchs or presidents. No one seriously contends that the American presidency should be abolished because Bill Clinton is a self-confessed adulterer. So why should the abolition of the British monarchy be contemplated because the same is true of Prince Charles?
Who has a book of all that monarchs do, He's more secure to keep it shut than shown; For vice repeated is like the wand'ring wind, Blows dust in others' eye, to spread itself; And yet the end of all is bought thus dear, The breath is gone, and the sore eyes see clear To stop the air would hurt them.
All things are subject to decay and when fate summons, monarchs must obey.
I cannot approve of monarchs who want to rule over the conscience of the people, and take away their freedom of choice and religion.
All monarchs I hate, and the thrones they sit on, From the hector of France to the cully of Britain.
To be seduced by Orators, as a Monarch by Flatterers.
Fear of change perplexes monarchs.
Clemency is the noblest trait which can reveal a true monarch to the world.
Alcohol is the monarch of liquids.
I'd sooner be called a successful crook than a destitute monarch.
If you compare the United States with Europe, my view is that what happened in Europe is that the church became deeply distrusted by people, because it sided with the monarchs. It instituted the Inquisition and became part of the repressive state apparatus. That never happened here. We don't have that history.
Even monarchs have need of authors, and fear their pens more than ugly women the painter's pencil.
Cruel and paradoxical though it undoubtedly is, the record shows that yje most succesful 20th century monarchs have been those who were not actually born to succeed. King George VI was 41 when the abdication of Edward VIII propelled him suddenly and unexpectedly to take up the crown; and Queen Elizabeth II spent her first decade with no inkling thay she herself might one day have to reign. Taken together, these examples suggest that the best preparation for the job of sovereign is not to be prepared for it at all, ir not to be too well prepared for it, or for too long.
O for a Muse of fire, that would ascend The brightest heaven of invention, A kingdom for a stage, princes to act And monarchs to behold the swelling scene!
For monarchs seldom sigh in vain.
A monarch’s neck should always have a noose around it—it keeps him upright.
A free life cannot acquire many possessions, because this is not easy to do without servility to mobs or monarchs.
In the light of our egos, we are all dethroned monarchs
There is no necessity to separate the monarch from the mob; all authority is equally bad.
