Louis Ix Quotes

“To Roland's relief, Jean de Joinville came to his aid. "Sire, this good knight wants only to preserve your life. Let us all ride together against the Egyptians."
"If I ride against them alone, God will protect me," said Louis.
A new figure pushed into the circle. He wore the white surcoat and red cross of a Templar over his mail. With a leap of his heart, Roland recognized Guido Bruchesi.
Guido looked at him but did not acknowledge him. He went directly to the King.
He spoke quietly but firmly. "Sire, what you have just said is presumption."
"I do not see how that could be, brother Templar." But Louis took his foot out of the stirrup as Roland watched with growing hope. You can always catch Louis's attention with a religious argument, Roland thought, even on the battlefield.
"Sire," said Guido, "Satan tempted our Seigneur Jesus, telling Him that if He cast Himself down from the mountaintop, angels would lift him up." Guido cast a sidelong look at Amalric. "You, Sire, are being tempted to ride alone against the whole Egyptian army, expecting God's protection. You are demanding a miracle. That is presumption."
Louis was silent for a moment. "Perhaps you are right."
Roland let out a long breath.”
― Robert Shea, All Things Are Lights

“...le Roi-Soleil, construisant Versailles et obligeant les nobles à le suivre à la Cour, les a enfermés dans une cage toujours plus stricte de cérémonies et de petits privilèges pour les priver, presque sans qu’ils s’en rendent compte, de leur liberté et même, dans la plupart des cas, de la dignité la plus élémentaire. Dans la scène finale, on voit le roi se dépouiller de tous ses ornements, ses objets de luxe : les habits somptueux n’étaient qu’artifice, des instruments pour lui permettre d’affirmer son pouvoir afin, comme il le dit à son ministre, que chacun dans le royaume dépende pour toute chose du monarque, comme la nature dépend en toute chose du soleil.”
― Giuliano da Empoli, Le Mage du Kremlin