Catherine The Great Quotes

Happiness and unhappiness are in the heart and spirit of each one of us: If you feel unhappy, then place yourself above that and act so that your happiness does not get to be dependent on anything.

You philosophers are lucky men. You write on paper and paper is patient. Unfortunate Empress that I am, I write on the susceptible skins of living beings.

In politics a capable ruler must be guided by circumstances, conjectures and conjunctions.

The more a man knows, the more he forgives.

Nothing is more difficult, in my opinion, than to avoid something that fundamentally attracts you.

A great wind is blowing, and that gives you either imagination or a headache.

I sincerely want peace, not because I lack resources for war, but because I hate bloodshed.

One does not always do the best there is. One does the best one can.

it is better to inspire a reform than to enforce it.

Power without a nation's confidence is nothing.

I am one of the people who love the why of things.

I shall be an autocrat: that's my trade. And the good Lord will forgive me: that's his.

I may be kindly, I am ordinarily gentle, but in my line of business I am obliged to will terribly what I will at all.

I beg you take courage; the brave soul can mend even disaster.

I like to praise and reward loudly, to blame quietly.

Don't worry about things you cannot alter

the title of Queen rang sweet to my ears, child though I was. ... This idea of a crown began running in my head then like a tune, and has been running a lot in it ever since.

You were in a mood to quarrel. Please inform me once the inclination passes.

I cannot live one day without love.

If I may venture to be frank I would say about myself that I was every inch a gentleman.

God, grant us our desires, and grant them quickly.

[On Peter III:] He did not have a bad heart; but a weak man usually has not.

I will live to make myself not feared.

bad news travels faster than good.

Tell a thousand people to draft a letter, let them debate every phrase, and see how long it takes and what you get.

self-interest usually brings injustice with it.

The most sure, but at the same time the most difficult expedient to mend the morals of the people, is a perfect system of education.

If Russians knew how to read, they would write me off.

Your wits make others witty.

All punishments by which the human body might be maimed are barbarbarism.

Men make love more intensely at 20, but make love better, however, at 30.

Praise is the only gift for which people are really grateful. Marguerite, Countess of Blessington I praise loudly; I blame softly.

I praise loudly and I blame softly.

In my position you have to read when you want to write and to talk when you would like to read.

What right can give anyone authority to inflict torture upon a citizen when it is still unknown whether he is innocent or guilty?

Your wit makes others witty.

The use of torture is contrary to sound judgment and common sense. Humanity itself cries out against it, and demands it to be utterly abolished.

I do not love strife, because I have always found that in the end each remains of the same opinion.

I like to praise and reward in a loud voice and to scold in a whisper.

I praise loudly. I blame softly.

I beg you take courage the brave soul can mend even disaster.

I shall be an autocrat that's my trade and the good Lord will forgive me that's his.

Power without [the people's] confidence is nothing.

First health then wealth then pleasure and do not owe anything to anybody.

A great wind is blowing and that gives you either imagination or a headache.

She had dealt with her pregnancy by wrapping herself in dreams.

If a tree is bent, every goat will jump on it.

Where does destiny end and choice begin?