Catherine The Great Quotes

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.

- 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.

- Catherine the Great

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

- Catherine the Great

I praise loudly. I blame softly.

- Catherine the Great

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

- 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.

- Catherine the Great

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

- Catherine the Great

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

- Catherine the Great

All this is only for the mice and myself to admire!

- Catherine the Great

Your wit makes others witty.

- Catherine the Great

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

- Catherine the Great

The more a man knows, the more he forgives.

- Catherine the Great

I like to praise and reward loudly, to blame quietly.

- Catherine the Great

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

- Catherine the Great

In my position you have to read when you want to write and to talk when you would like to read.

- Catherine the Great

Power without a nation's confidence is nothing.

- Catherine the Great

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

- Catherine the Great