William the Silent Quotes

Dutch statesman and revolt leader (1533-1584)

For other people named William of Orange, see William of Orange (disambiguation). William I, Prince of Orange, Count of Nassau-Dillenburg (24 April 1533 – 10 July 1584), also widely known as William the Silent, was the main leader of the Dutch revolt against the Spanish Empire that set off the Eighty Years' War and resulted in the formal independence of the United Provinces in 1648. He was assassinated in 1584. Today, he is known as the De Vader des Vaderlands, or, in english, Father of the Fatherland.

From: Wikiquote (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Pen Names: Willem de Zwijger • el Taciturno • le Taciturne

Native Name: Willem van Oranje-Nassau

Alternative Names: William I, Prince of Orange • William the Taciturn • William of Orange • prins van Oranje, graaf van Nassau Dutch Willem • Prince of Orange, Count of Nassau William • William I of Orange-Nassau • Vader des Vaderlands Willem van Oranje

From Wikidata (CC0)

Sire, have pity on the Spanish infantry, which, for lack of pay and out of sheer starvation, is scouring the low country round, plundering the peasantry in mere need of food. These disorders I cannot repress, much less can I punish them, for necessity has no law.