Ordered in a rage to arrest Fouquet in his own house, d'Artagnan refuses to move without a written order: “Parce qu’une parole de roi, issue d’un sentiment de colère, peut changer quand le sentiment change.” Then, when the king insists a king is at home everywhere, the musketeer translates the euphemism: “Le roi est chez lui dans toute maison, quand il en a chassé le propriétaire.” Two moves: force the powerful to sign their anger, because signatures outlive moods — and name the violence plainly when flattery dresses it up.

— In our words · Source: The Man in the Iron Mask (Alexandre Dumas)