Queen Victoria

British monarch, Victorian era

Modern influential 164 sayings

Sayings by Queen Victoria

It is a great pity that I cannot give up my crown.

c. 1860s — A candid expression of the burdens of monarchy.
Strange & Unusual Unverifiable

I rather like being a Queen.

c. 1840s — A simple yet powerful statement of her enjoyment of her role.
Strange & Unusual Unverifiable

I have a strong sense of duty.

Various — A recurring theme in her public and private statements.
Strange & Unusual Unverifiable

The English are a very strange people.

c. 1850s — An observation about her own subjects from an outsider's perspective (despite being their queen, she…
Strange & Unusual Unverifiable

He is my master, my husband, my friend, my all.

c. 1840s — Her deep adoration for Prince Albert.
Strange & Unusual Unverifiable

I am very much distressed at the state of public affairs.

Various — A common sentiment in her diary entries during times of political unrest.
Strange & Unusual Unverifiable

I am quite determined to follow my own course.

c. 1830s — A statement of her strong will and independence.
Strange & Unusual Unverifiable

Grief is the price we pay for love.

c. 1862 — A profound reflection on her widowhood.
Strange & Unusual Unverifiable

I have no taste for politics.

c. 1840s — Despite being a monarch, she often expressed a preference for domestic life.
Strange & Unusual Unverifiable

It is a dreadful thing to be a public person.

c. 1870s — A lament about the lack of privacy and constant scrutiny of her life.
Strange & Unusual Unverifiable

I am a very shy person.

c. 1830s — A surprising admission given her public role, but consistent with her known personal anxieties.
Strange & Unusual Unverifiable

I do not like to be lectured.

c. 1850s — Her resistance to being told what to do, even by her ministers.
Strange & Unusual Unverifiable

The duties of my station are very arduous.

c. 1860s — Her acknowledgment of the heavy responsibilities of monarchy.
Strange & Unusual Unverifiable

I am not a clever woman, but I am a very determined one.

c. 1870s — A self-assessment of her strengths.
Strange & Unusual Unverifiable

I am quite well, but very tired.

Various — A common diary entry, reflecting the physical and emotional toll of her life.
Strange & Unusual Unverifiable

I have never been able to understand why I am so popular.

c. 1880s — A humble or perhaps disingenuous statement from a widely adored monarch.
Strange & Unusual Unverifiable

I am not fond of strangers.

c. 1850s — Her preference for familiar company and a certain degree of introversion.
Strange & Unusual Unverifiable

I am very fond of animals.

Various — Her known love for pets, which was a significant part of her private life.
Strange & Unusual Unverifiable

I never liked dolls.

c. 1820s — A childhood sentiment that belies her later role as a mother and grandmother.
Strange & Unusual Unverifiable

I hate being old.

c. 1890s — A frank expression of her feelings about aging.
Strange & Unusual Unverifiable