Catherine the Great

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

The more a man knows, the more he forgives.

I praise loudly. I blame softly.

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

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.

Power without a nation's confidence is nothing.

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.

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

Power without [the people's] confidence is nothing.

First health then wealth then pleasure and do not owe anything to anybody.

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

One cannot always know what children are thinking. Children are hard to understand, especially when careful training has accustomed them to obedience, and experience has made them cautious in their conversation with their teachers. Will you not draw from this the fine maxim that one should not scold children too much, but should make them trustful, so that they will not conceal their stupidities from us?

One cannot always know what children are thinking. Children are hard to understand, especially when careful training has a custom them to obedience and experience has made them cautious in conversation with their teachers.