A notable passage in a missive to Pedro II gives an insight into the Duke of Braganza's political philosophy: "The era in which princes were respected solely because they are simply princes has ended; in the century in which we live, in which the peoples are quite well informed of their rights, it is necessary that princes should be and also should know that they are men and not divinities, that for them knowledge and good sense are indispensable so that they are the more quickly loved than respected.
Unha pasaxe notable dunha carta enviada a Pedro II ofrece unha noción da filosofía política do duque de Braganza: "A era na que os príncipes eran respectados so porque eran simplemente príncipes rematou; no século no que vivimos, no que as xentes están ben informadas dos seus dereitos, é necesario que os príncipes deban ser e tamén deban saber que son homes e non divinidades, que para eles o coñecemento e o sentido común son indispensables para ser rapidamente máis amados que respectados.