--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It takes so much to be a king that he…" description: "\"It takes so much to be a king that he exists only as such. That extraneous glare that surrounds him hides him and conceals him from us; our sight break..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7fa/michel-de-montaigne-142_arrested_it-takes-so-much-to-be-a-king-that-he-ex_2360032.jpg" --- # It takes so much to be a king that he exists only as such… ![“It takes so much to be a king that he exists only as such. That extraneous glare that surrounds him hides him and conceals him from us; our sight breaks and is dissipated by it being filled and arrested by this strong light.” quote by Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7fa/michel-de-montaigne-142_arrested_it-takes-so-much-to-be-a-king-that-he-ex_2360032.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7fa/michel-de-montaigne-142_arrested_it-takes-so-much-to-be-a-king-that-he-ex_2360032.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7fa/michel-de-montaigne-142_arrested_it-takes-so-much-to-be-a-king-that-he-ex_2360032.jpg) > “It takes so much to be a king that he exists only as such. That extraneous glare that surrounds him hides him and conceals him from us; our sight breaks and is dissipated by it being filled and arrested by this strong light.” [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Power and fame create a blinding aura that obscures the true self, making the ruler appear only as a symbol, not a person. **In simple terms:** Fame hides the real person. Key Takeaway Seek authenticity beyond titles. Themes power identity perception leadership Mood reflective critical Type philosophical analytical When to use this quote - political leadership - celebrity culture - personal relationships Key Concepts philosophy psychology social masks Questions to Reflect On - How does fame affect your self‑view? - What can reveal the true person behind a role? A Different Perspective The metaphor may be too abstract for practical application. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Arrested](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/arrested/) [Break](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/break/) [Conceals Sight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conceals-sight-5775508/) [Existence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/existence/) [Extraneous Glare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/extraneous-glare-5775509/) [Filled](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/filled/) [Glare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/glare/) [King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/king/) [King Exists](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/king-exists-4362140/) [Kings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kings/) [Light](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/light/) [Sight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sight/) [Strong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/strong/) [Surround](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/surround/) ## Related quotes > [How could it occur to anyone to demonstrate that God exists unless one has already allowed Himself to ignore Him? A king's existence is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/soren-kierkegaard/how-could-it-occur-to-anyone-to-demonstrate-that-god-exists-unless/) [Soren Kierkegaard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/soren-kierkegaard/) > [God is the King. In him exists all legal authority](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orson-pratt/god-is-the-king-in-him-exists-all-legal-authority/) [Orson Pratt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orson-pratt/) > [I hate to say this, but not everyone seems happy that you’re still alive,” Finn said, picking up on the glares coming my way.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-estep/i-hate-to-say-this-but-not-everyone-seems-happy-that-you-re-still/) [Jennifer Estep](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-estep/) > [...and then she glared at me, the same glare my stepmother used to give me when I gave her the Nazi salute. That woman…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darynda-jones/and-then-she-glared-at-me-the-same-glare-my-stepmother-used-to-give/) [Darynda Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darynda-jones/) > [“All imperfections glare in the spotlight.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mindy-mcginnis/all-imperfections-glare-in-the-spotlight/) [Mindy McGinnis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mindy-mcginnis/) > [For some time I watch the coming of the night? Above is the glistening galaxy of childhood, now hidden in the Western world by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-matthiessen/for-some-time-i-watch-the-coming-of-the-night-above-is-the-glistening/) [Peter Matthiessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-matthiessen/) > [How?" I had seen it with my own eyes, but I still didn't believe it. Then something struck me. "Take off your shirt!" "I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kiersten-white/how-i-had-seen-it-with-my-own-eyes-but-i-still-didn-t-believe-it-then/) [Kiersten White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kiersten-white/) > [Belatedly, she realized something else. “Do you … have anything?” He didn’t seem to have recovered from her last comment. “But do you mean…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/belatedly-she-realized-something-else-do-you-have-anything-he-didn-t/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [I'm not a social guy. I don't like the constant media glare on everything I do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naga-chaitanya/i-m-not-a-social-guy-i-don-t-like-the-constant-media-glare-on/) [Naga Chaitanya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naga-chaitanya/) > [It is a thing which every sensible American should learn from every sensible Englishman, that glare and glitter, gimcracks and gewgaws, are not indispensable…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/it-is-a-thing-which-every-sensible-american-should-learn-from-every/) [Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/) > [John rose to his feet and apologized to Holiday. Her mom seethed. Her dad tried to talk to her seething mom. Holiday tried to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-c-hunter/john-rose-to-his-feet-and-apologized-to-holiday-her-mom-seethed-her/) [C.C. Hunter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-c-hunter/) > [I mean, when you think about it, it's 'bombs bursting in air,' 'rocket's red glare,' it's all kinds of - you know a lot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-press/i-mean-when-you-think-about-it-it-s-bombs-bursting-in-air-rocket-s/) [Bill Press](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-press/) > [Lights of ships moved in the fairway-a great stir of lights going up and going down. And farther west on the upper reaches the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-conrad/lights-of-ships-moved-in-the-fairway-a-great-stir-of-lights-going-up/) [Joseph Conrad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-conrad/) > [Pleasure's a Moth, that sleeps by day And dances by false glare at night; But Joy's a Butterfly, that loves To spread its wings…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-h-davies/pleasure-s-a-moth-that-sleeps-by-day-and-dances-by-false-glare-at/) [W. H. Davies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-h-davies/) > [How are we doing, Simon?" she whispered into the small microphone in her collar. "Just about..." Simon started slowly. And then he stopped. "Wow."…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ally-carter/how-are-we-doing-simon-she-whispered-into-the-small-microphone-in-her/) [Ally Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ally-carter/) ## More by Michel de Montaigne > [No man is exempt from saying silly things; the mischief is to say them deliberately.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/no-man-is-exempt-from-saying-silly-things-the-mischief-is-to-say-them/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [The laws keep up their credit, not by being just, but because they are laws; 'tis the mystic foundation of their authority; they have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/the-laws-keep-up-their-credit-not-by-being-just-but-because-they-are/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [Every one rushes elsewhere and into the future, because no one wants to face one's own inner self.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/every-one-rushes-elsewhere-and-into-the-future-because-no-one-wants/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [Beauty is the true prerogative of women, and so peculiarly their own, that our sex, though naturally requiring another sort of feature, is never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/beauty-is-the-true-prerogative-of-women-and-so-peculiarly-their-own/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [The height and value of true virtue consists in the facility, utility, and pleasure of its exercise; so far from difficulty, that boys, as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/the-height-and-value-of-true-virtue-consists-in-the-facility-utility/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [Fie on the eloquence that leaves us craving itself, not things!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/fie-on-the-eloquence-that-leaves-us-craving-itself-not-things/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [The plainest sign of wisdom is a continual cheerfulness: her state is like that of things in the regions above the moon, always clear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/the-plainest-sign-of-wisdom-is-a-continual-cheerfulness-her-state-is/) [Michel De Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [The corruption of the age is made up by the particular contribution of every individual man; some contribute treachery, others injustice, atheism, tyranny, avarice,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/the-corruption-of-the-age-is-made-up-by-the-particular-contribution/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [If people must be talking about me, I would have it to be truthfully and justly. I would willingly return from the next world…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/if-people-must-be-talking-about-me-i-would-have-it-to-be-truthfully/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [Most pleasures embrace us but to strangle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/most-pleasures-embrace-us-but-to-strangle/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [In true friendship, in which I am expert, I give myself to my friend more than I draw him to me. I not only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/in-true-friendship-in-which-i-am-expert-i-give-myself-to-my-friend/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [There are as many and innumerable degrees of wit, as there are cubits between this and heaven.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/there-are-as-many-and-innumerable-degrees-of-wit-as-there-are-cubits/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [A man has need of tough ears to hear himself fairly judged.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/a-man-has-need-of-tough-ears-to-hear-himself-fairly-judged/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [Lucius Arruntius killed himself, he said, to escape both the future and the past.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/lucius-arruntius-killed-himself-he-said-to-escape-both-the-future-and/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [I have a vocabulary all my own. I pass the time when itis wet and disagreeable. Whenit is fine I do not wish to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/i-have-a-vocabulary-all-my-own-i-pass-the-time-when-itis-wet-and/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) [Explore all 1,131 Michel de Montaigne quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) ## More Arrested quotes > [Impulse arrested spills over, and the flood is feeling, the flood is passion, the flood is even madness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldous-huxley/impulse-arrested-spills-over-and-the-flood-is-feeling-the-flood-is/) [Aldous Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldous-huxley/) > [On stage you're free. You can say and do things that if you said and did any place else, you'd be arrested.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-williams/on-stage-you-re-free-you-can-say-and-do-things-that-if-you-said-and/) [Robin Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-williams/) > [a TEN-YEAR-OLD lad in Indianapolis who was arrested for picking up coal along the side of railroad tracks is now in jail. If the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mother-jones/a-ten-year-old-lad-in-indianapolis-who-was-arrested-for-picking-up/) [Mother Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mother-jones/) > [Fame is like a big eraser. It's strange, now that I'm famous. In my parents' opinion, all the shitty things - all the wreckage…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobcat-goldthwait/fame-is-like-a-big-eraser-it-s-strange-now-that-i-m-famous-in-my/) [Bobcat Goldthwait](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobcat-goldthwait/) > [When men are arrested without any legal basis and for political reasons, it's merely a routine, everyday occurrence in Russia, and hardly anyone has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexei-navalny/when-men-are-arrested-without-any-legal-basis-and-for-political/) [Alexei Navalny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexei-navalny/) > [Helen Crawfurd and the Women's Peace Crusade, made a march on the City Chambers, distributing an illegal leaflet in front of police and even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willie-gallacher/helen-crawfurd-and-the-women-s-peace-crusade-made-a-march-on-the-city/) [Willie Gallacher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willie-gallacher/) > [I just put myself in a hotel and was smoking coke for a while. Then I met up with the wrong people. I ended…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marc-wallice/i-just-put-myself-in-a-hotel-and-was-smoking-coke-for-a-while-then-i/) [Marc Wallice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marc-wallice/) > [My father was pretty independent. He was - he was arrested once in Nashville when he was on one of his sales trips because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nat-hentoff/my-father-was-pretty-independent-he-was-he-was-arrested-once-in/) [Nat Hentoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nat-hentoff/) > [I was arrested on graduation night for breaking and entering into the high school.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gillian-anderson/i-was-arrested-on-graduation-night-for-breaking-and-entering-into-the/) [Gillian Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gillian-anderson/) > [On my recent trip to the Mexico border, Border Patrol agents in California told me they have arrested the same coyotes 20 times, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ric-keller/on-my-recent-trip-to-the-mexico-border-border-patrol-agents-in/) [Ric Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ric-keller/) > [You tell people that all the time, 'Jail's the worst place ever and you don't want to go there,' which is true but at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-glover/you-tell-people-that-all-the-time-jail-s-the-worst-place-ever-and-you/) [Stephen Glover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-glover/) > [“But Daddy, I never knew that's what you expected of me. I mean on the plus side, I've never been arrested or anything..”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrea-smith/but-daddy-i-never-knew-that-s-what-you-expected-of-me-i-mean-on-the/) [Andrea Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrea-smith/) > [There is the possibility to be suddenly arrested for hacking.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandra-elbakyan/there-is-the-possibility-to-be-suddenly-arrested-for-hacking/) [Alexandra Elbakyan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandra-elbakyan/) > [“I don’t do drugs, I’ve never been arrested, and from what I hear, I’m not too shabby in bed. Not that any of you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-peterfreund/i-don-t-do-drugs-i-ve-never-been-arrested-and-from-what-i-hear-i-m/) [Diana Peterfreund](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-peterfreund/) > [ I'd been arrested many times by then. I'd been an organizer, so many things had changed over those three years \[from 1965 till 1968\]. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-ayers/i-d-been-arrested-many-times-by-then-i-d-been-an-organizer-so-many/) [Bill Ayers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-ayers/) [Browse all 480 Arrested quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/arrested/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It takes so much to be a king that he exists only as such. 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