Leopold II of Belgium Quotes

The Congo state is certainly not a business, if it gathers ivory on some of it's lands, that is only to lessen its deficits.

India has never cost England one centime. it paid back What it cost. India provides a livelihood for all benjamins of English families.

Nothing is more difficult than arriving at a court where nobody knows anyone in the world, add to that the Austrian Etiquette, and you can imagine what kind of evening I had to endure.

Of all the outlets, the safest and most stable, both for products and for capital, is obviously that of a colony.

It's my ruin you stipulate and you can't want it.

You just have to dare to succeed.

Small country, small people.

Leopold II, Het hele Verhaal, Johan Op De Beeck Horizon, 2020

To open to civilization the only part of the globe not yet explored, to penetrate the shadows that envelope its entire population; This is, I make bold to say a crusade worthy of this century of progress, and I am happy to note that public opinion is favorable to its undertaking.

Santo Tomas was based on emigration and was therefore bound to fail, Belgians do not emigrate.

If God gives me a long life and allows me to carry out my task, then Brussels will become a city of exceptional category.

In dealing with a race composed of cannibals for thousands of years, it is necessary to use methods which will best shape their idleness, and make them realize the sanctity of work.

A battle with the Netherlands must be a surprise on our part, we must suddenly present ourselves there with weapons, disrupt the order, and keep the provinces that want to join, let the others go free as they please.

Whoever has a cold is stupid, because he just had to avoid catching a cold.

I want the great effort which must permanently open Africa to civilization to take a date in Belgium.