I shall be an autocrat: that’s my trade. And the good Lord will forgive me: that’s his.
In politics a capable ruler must be guided by circumstances, conjectures and conjunctions.
Very early it was noticed that I had a good memory; therefore I was insistently tormented with learning everything by heart.
A great wind is blowing, and that gives you either imagination or a headache.
Men make love more intensely at 20, but make love better, however, at 30.
I sincerely want peace, not because I lack resources for war, but because I hate bloodshed.
All this is only for the mice and myself to admire!
I beg you take courage; the brave soul can mend even disaster.
In my position you have to read when you want to write and to talk when you would like to read.
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.
Tell a thousand people to draft a letter, let them debate every phrase, and see how long it takes and what you get.
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.
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.
If Russians knew how to read they would write me off.
I am one of the people who love the why of things.
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.
“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.
It is better to inspire a reform than to enforce it.
Don’t worry about things you cannot alter.
If I may venture to be frank I would say about myself that I was every inch a gentleman …
I like to praise and reward in a loud voice and to scold in a whisper.
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