'A prince must think of himself as a slave crowned by the people.'

The maxims of Christina (1626–1689), Queen regnant of Sweden from 1633 to 1654, the daughter of King Gustav II Adolph and his wife Maria Eleonora of Brandenburg.

This work has been selected, edited and translated by Basil Gentleman and consists of a collection of some of the best, as well as some of the least-known of Queen Christina's maxims.

'We ought to be heroically indifferent to all that happens - but the indifference must be heroic, not stupid.'

'If the heart is not royal, there is no royalty.'

About the Author:

Basil Gentleman was educated at the Lycée International de Saint-Germain-en-Laye near Paris and the Lycée Français Charles de Gaulle in London. His translations include My Thoughts by Montesquieu and Maxims and Reflections by Vauvenargues.