Alexander I of Russia

"Emperor Alexander was undoubtedly intelligent, but his intellect, subtle and penetrating, lacked depth. He was also easily led astray by a decided penchant for false theories. His favorite ideas always prevailed in his mind; he adopted them by sudden inspiration and gave himself over to them with the utmost ardor; soon they took such possession of him that his will was subordinated to those who instilled them."

"If someone cuts off your arm, no doubt you would shout and cry in paint; last night I was deprived of Speransky and he was my right arm. [...] You will examine [his] papers but you will find nothing; he was not a traitor"

"As to the Emperor of Russia, he is a man infinitely superior to these : he possesses wit, grace, information, is fascinating ; but he is not to be trusted ; he is devoid of candour; a true Greek of the Lower Empire. At the same time he is not without ideology, real or assumed : — after all it may only be a smattering derived from his education and his preceptor. Would you believe," said the Emperor, " what I had to discuss with him! He maintained that inheritance was an abuse in monarchy, and I had to spend more than an hour, and employ all my eloquence and logic, in proving to him that this rig-lit constituted the peace and happiness of the people. It may be, too, that he was mystifying ; for he can go a great length. If I die here, he will be my real heir in Europe."

"A monarch weak and also cunning, A fop gone bald, toil’s arrant foe. Whom fame had, by strange chance, been sunning. Was then our ruler, as you know. He looked more crestfallen than regal When all the foreign cooks were bent On plucking the two-headed eagle Not far from Bonaparte’s tent."