Catherine the Great Quotes

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

Very early it was noticed that I had a good memory; therefore I was insistently tormented with learning everything by heart.

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

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

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

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

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

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.

Don’t worry about things you cannot alter.

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

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

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

I have no way to defend my borders but to extend them.

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.

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.

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

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.

The laws ought to be so framed as to secure the safety of every citizen as much as possible. … Political liberty does not consist in the notion that a man may do whatever he pleases; liberty is the right to do whatsoever the laws allow. … The equality of the citizens consists in that they should all be subject to the same laws.

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

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

Your wit makes others witty.