Catherine the Great

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.

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.

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

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

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

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