Tell a thousand people to draft a letter, let them debate every phrase, and see how long it takes and what you get.
If Russians knew how to read they would write me off.
I have no way to defend my borders but to extend them.
The more a man knows, the more he forgives.
One does not always do the best there is. One does the best one can. – Catherine the Great
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.
Your wit makes others witty.
I am one of the people who love the why of things.
Experience shows that the frequent use of severe punishment has never rendered a people better. The death of a criminal is a less effective means of restraining crimes than the permanent example of a man deprived of his liberty during the whole of his life to make amends for the injury he has done to the public.
Don’t worry about things you cannot alter.
I like to praise and reward in a loud voice and to scold in a whisper.
Men make love more intensely at 20, but make love better, however, at 30.
It is better to inspire a reform than to enforce it.
I shall be an autocrat: that’s my trade. And the good Lord will forgive me: that’s his.
“You should know our mania for building is stronger than ever. It is a diabolical thing. It consumes money and the more you build, the more you want to build. It’s a sickness like being addicted to alcohol.
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.
A great wind is blowing, and that gives you either imagination or a headache.
Madame, you must be gay; only thus can life be endured. I speak from experience for I have had to endure much, and have only been able to endure it because I have always laughed whenever I had the chance.
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.
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.
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