--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Princes give me sufficiently if they take…" description: "\"Princes give me sufficiently if they take nothing from me, and do me much good if they do me no hurt; it is all I require of them.\" — Michel de Montaigne" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d35/michel-de-montaigne-142_giving_princes-give-me-sufficiently-if-they-tak_1587169.jpg" --- # Princes give me sufficiently if they take nothing from me… ![“Princes give me sufficiently if they take nothing from me, and do me much good if they do me no hurt; it is all I require of them.” quote by Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d35/michel-de-montaigne-142_giving_princes-give-me-sufficiently-if-they-tak_1587169.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d35/michel-de-montaigne-142_giving_princes-give-me-sufficiently-if-they-tak_1587169.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d35/michel-de-montaigne-142_giving_princes-give-me-sufficiently-if-they-tak_1587169.jpg) > “Princes give me sufficiently if they take nothing from me, and do me much good if they do me no hurt; it is all I require of them.” [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. A ruler should take nothing from subjects and cause no harm; that is all that is required. **In simple terms:** Kings should be non‑exploitive and harmless. Key Takeaway Demand fairness and non‑harm from leaders. Themes leadership ethics power Mood philosophical critical Type ethics political When to use this quote - political discourse - education - community leadership Key Concepts social contract philosophical Questions to Reflect On - What defines a just ruler? - Can power be exercised without harm? A Different Perspective Ideal may be unrealistic in power dynamics. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Princes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/princes/) [Sufficiently](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sufficiently/) ## Related quotes > [Princes give mee sufficiently, if they take nothing from me, and doe me much good, if they doe me no hurt: it is all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/princes-give-mee-sufficiently-if-they-take-nothing-from-me-and-doe-me/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [The same reason that makes us chide and brawl and fall out with any of our neighbors, causeth a war to follow between Princes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/the-same-reason-that-makes-us-chide-and-brawl-and-fall-out-with-any/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [There is nothing which so poisons princes as flattery, nor anything whereby wicked men more easily obtain credit and favor with them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/there-is-nothing-which-so-poisons-princes-as-flattery-nor-anything/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [That is never too often repeated, which is never sufficiently learned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/that-is-never-too-often-repeated-which-is-never-sufficiently-learned/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The best teachers, one hopes, don't shout at their students - because they are skilled at wooing as well as demanding the best efforts…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-chatfield/the-best-teachers-one-hopes-don-t-shout-at-their-students-because/) [Tom Chatfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-chatfield/) > [I finished 'Heartsick' with my daughter asleep in her bassinet by my desk, a feat that any new mother will tell you cannot be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chelsea-cain/i-finished-heartsick-with-my-daughter-asleep-in-her-bassinet-by-my/) [Chelsea Cain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chelsea-cain/) > [Fundamentally, if you look at where the environmental issues are coming from, it's all because of humans and our impact on the environment, so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-filo/fundamentally-if-you-look-at-where-the-environmental-issues-are/) [David Filo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-filo/) > [A lot of fans that recognize me go, 'I kind of hate you,' and I'm all, 'Cool, well, you've just made this sufficiently awkward.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophie-turner/a-lot-of-fans-that-recognize-me-go-i-kind-of-hate-you-and-i-m-all/) [Sophie Turner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophie-turner/) > [I am satisfied, and sufficiently occupied with the things which are, without tormenting or troubling myself about those which may indeed be, but of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/i-am-satisfied-and-sufficiently-occupied-with-the-things-which-are/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [A sufficiently great and generous trust could never be abused.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/a-sufficiently-great-and-generous-trust-could-never-be-abused/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [“When I have Suffered sufficiently, the Lord will then take me to himself”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-jackson/when-i-have-suffered-sufficiently-the-lord-will-then-take-me-to/) [Andrew Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-jackson/) > [In song the same rule applies as in dramatic verse: the meaning must yield itself, or yield itself sufficiently to arouse the attention and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-fenton/in-song-the-same-rule-applies-as-in-dramatic-verse-the-meaning-must/) [James Fenton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-fenton/) > [I had no inducement to proceed further into the interior. I had been sufficiently disappointed in the termination of this excursion, and the track…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-sturt/i-had-no-inducement-to-proceed-further-into-the-interior-i-had-been/) [Charles Sturt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-sturt/) > [Science to me is sufficiently weird and interesting, and stranger than fiction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-susskind/science-to-me-is-sufficiently-weird-and-interesting-and-stranger-than/) [Leonard Susskind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-susskind/) > [I'm sufficiently complex that there's no one truth about me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-cernovich/i-m-sufficiently-complex-that-there-s-no-one-truth-about-me/) [Mike Cernovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-cernovich/) ## 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 Giving quotes > [Only within yourself exists the other reality for which you long. I can give you nothing that has not already its being within yourself.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hermann-hesse/only-within-yourself-exists-the-other-reality-for-which-you-long-i/) [Hermann Hesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hermann-hesse/) > [The only people who think the Internet is a calamity are people whose lives have been hurt by it; the only people who insist…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-klosterman/the-only-people-who-think-the-internet-is-a-calamity-are-people-whose/) [Chuck Klosterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-klosterman/) > [True works of art contain their own theory and give us the measurement according to which we should judge them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/true-works-of-art-contain-their-own-theory-and-give-us-the/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [Crony capitalism is essentially a condition in which... public officials are giving favours to people in the private sector in payment of political favours.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-greenspan/crony-capitalism-is-essentially-a-condition-in-which-public-officials/) [Alan Greenspan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-greenspan/) > [Some people give you that motivation to work harder simply to get the hell away from wherever they are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dane-cook/some-people-give-you-that-motivation-to-work-harder-simply-to-get-the/) [Dane Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dane-cook/) > [You've touched people and known it. You've touched people and never may know it. Either way, you have something to give. It is in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-schlessinger/you-ve-touched-people-and-known-it-you-ve-touched-people-and-never/) [Laura Schlessinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-schlessinger/) > [I understand that it's the music that keeps me alive... That's my lifeblood. And to give that up for, like, the TV, the cars,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/i-understand-that-it-s-the-music-that-keeps-me-alive-that-s-my/) [Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) > [I received a beautiful welcome to the world of music. I want to give something back to the younger generation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luciano-pavarotti/i-received-a-beautiful-welcome-to-the-world-of-music-i-want-to-give/) [Luciano Pavarotti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luciano-pavarotti/) > [Eternal Trinity... mystery deep as the sea, You could give me no greater gift than the gift of Yourself. For You are a fire…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/st-catherine-of-siena/eternal-trinity-mystery-deep-as-the-sea-you-could-give-me-no-greater/) [St. Catherine of Siena](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/st-catherine-of-siena/) > [Faith gives you a certain structure and meaning to your life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/riffat-hassan/faith-gives-you-a-certain-structure-and-meaning-to-your-life/) Riffat Hassan > [Grandma, please. It’s okay. Dad’s doing a great job. I give him kudos for at least being calm and rational, and not losing his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/grandma-please-it-s-okay-dad-s-doing-a-great-job-i-give-him-kudos-for/) [Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/) > [Most paper money initially existed as a substitute for gold. That's what gave it value. But right now what gives a currency value is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-schiff/most-paper-money-initially-existed-as-a-substitute-for-gold-that-s/) [Peter Schiff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-schiff/) > [Practically all animals which move fast in a homogeneous medium have found means of giving their body a streamlined shape, thereby reducing friction to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/konrad-lorenz/practically-all-animals-which-move-fast-in-a-homogeneous-medium-have/) [Konrad Lorenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/konrad-lorenz/) > [Give me strength to walk the soft earth, a relative to all that is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/black-elk/give-me-strength-to-walk-the-soft-earth-a-relative-to-all-that-is/) [Black Elk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/black-elk/) > [I don't think my relationship with the idea of womanhood is that attached to giving birth... like, I'm fully aware that I'll never give…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patti-harrison/i-don-t-think-my-relationship-with-the-idea-of-womanhood-is-that/) [Patti Harrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patti-harrison/) [Browse all 39,303 Giving quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Princes give me sufficiently if they take nothing from me, and do me much good if they do me no hurt; it is all I require of them.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Michel de Montaigne" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/princes-give-me-sufficiently-if-they-take-nothing-from-me-and-do-me/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Giving" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/princes-give-me-sufficiently-if-they-take-nothing-from-me-and-do-me/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d35/michel-de-montaigne-142_giving_princes-give-me-sufficiently-if-they-tak_1587169.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d35/michel-de-montaigne-142_giving_princes-give-me-sufficiently-if-they-tak_1587169.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d35/michel-de-montaigne-142_giving_princes-give-me-sufficiently-if-they-tak_1587169.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Princes give me sufficiently if they take nothing from me, and do me much good if they do me no hurt; it is…” — Michel de Montaigne", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Michel de Montaigne", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Princes give me sufficiently if they...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/princes-give-me-sufficiently-if-they-take-nothing-from-me-and-do-me/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/princes-give-me-sufficiently-if-they-take-nothing-from-me-and-do-me/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```