Catherine II Quotes

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

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

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

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

Power without a nation's confidence is nothing.

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

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

Your wit makes others witty.

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

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

For to tempt and to be tempted are things very nearly allied - whenever feeling has anything to do in the matter, no sooner is it excited than we have already gone vastly farther than we are aware of.