Tāufaʻāhau Tupou IV
Tāufaʻāhau Tupou IV (4 July 1918 – 10 September 2006) was the King of Tonga from 16 December 1965 until his death in 2006. He was the eldest son of Queen Sālote Tupou III and served as Prime Minister of Tonga from 1949 to 1965.
Quotes
[edit]- The history of Tonga tells us that the governing of the country was carried out by the King himself. When parliament was installed it was then carried out by the king in partnership with the nobles, then the people's representatives were brought in, still to be in partnership with the King and the nobles to work together.
- However the aim of the people's representatives (today) is to form an opposition so that there will always be debates and confrontation which could result in the house being not able to do any work.
- 1990 interview with Matangi Tonga, cited in "Constitutional Monarchy, What the People say" on Matangi Tonga Online (1 December 1997)
- Yes, I have just ordered one [satellite dish] for the palace in Nuku‘alofa. It is being shipped from Seattle now. I shall be a regular watcher of CNN.
- I shall be the first head of state to visit a reunited Berlin. Tonga had an understanding with Bismarck and provided coaling stations for German ships. It was before our Treaty of Friendship with Britain. Germany was a South Pacific colonial power - in Samoa and New Guinea - until 1919. There is thus some historic significance in my going there now, I suppose.
- October 1990 interview, cited in The Independent obituary (12 September 2006)
- We have nothing to do with the relationship between the governments of the two Chinas [PRC and ROC], their relationship is their own affair. We keep good relations with both Chinas, and we are working with both of them.
- Interview with Matangi Tonga (1 July 1998)
- When our first King George united the islands in 1845, he was doing so on behalf of the people themselves. He was not grabbing power on behalf of other aristocrats. He was ridding the islands of the despots and the villains and the robber-barons.
- My people love me. I love them and care for them. It is as simple as that.
- Cited in The Daily Telegraph obituary (11 September 2006)
- I find I can control my weight quite easily just by eating a lot of soup. I would say that I'm down to, oh, about 360 pounds.
- Until I arrived in America, I never knew that Amazing Grace could be sung so many times in one day.
- Cited in BBC News obituary (11 September 2006)
Quotes about Tāufaʻāhau
[edit]- Tonga is a kingdom of big men, and this man is the biggest of all. You would have known instantly that he is the King.
- Paul Theroux, "In the Court of the King of Tonga" (7 June 1992), The New York Times
