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Catherine the Great
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“[On Peter III:] He did not have a bad heart; but a weak man usually has not.”
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“I do not love strife, because I have always found that in the end each remains of the same opinion.”
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“... to tempt and be tempted are closely allied; and in spite of all the finest moral maxims buried in the mind, when emotion interferes, when feeling makes its appearance, one is already much further involved that one realizes, and I have still not learnt how to prevent its appearance.”
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“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.”
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“... the title of Queen rang sweet to my ears, child though I was. ... This idea of a crown began running in my head then like a tune, and has been running a lot in it ever since.”
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“[On her future husband:] ... I ... felt little more than indifference towards him, though I was not indifferent to the Russian Crown.”
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“[On one of her lovers:] Unfortunately I could not help listening to him; he was handsome as the dawn.”
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“If I may venture to be frank I would say about myself that I was every inch a gentleman ...”
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“... self-interest usually brings injustice with it.”
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“... it is better to inspire a reform than to enforce it.”
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“Your wits make others witty.”
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“I praise loudly; I blame softly.”
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“... I sincerely want peace, not because I lack resources for war, but because I hate bloodshed.”
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“I shall be an autocrat: that's my trade. And the good Lord will forgive me: that's his.”
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“The laws ought to be so framed as to secure the safety of every citizen as much as possible. ... Political liberty does not consist in the notion that a man may do whatever he pleases; liberty is the right to do whatsoever the laws allow. ... The equality of the citizens consists in that they should all be subject to the same laws.”
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“... it is much better to prevent than to punish crimes.”
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“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.”
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“The use of torture is contrary to sound judgment and common sense. Humanity itself cries out against it, and demands it to be utterly abolished.”
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“What right can give anyone authority to inflict torture upon a citizen when it is still unknown whether he is innocent or guilty?”
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“All punishments by which the human body might be maimed are barbarbarism.”
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“... bad news travels faster than good.”
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“I cannot live one day without love.”
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“The trouble is that my heart is loath to be without love even for a single hour. ... If you want to keep me forever, then show as much friendship as love, and more than anything else, love me and tell me the truth.”
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“You were in a mood to quarrel. Please inform me once the inclination passes.”
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“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.”
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“Tell a thousand people to draft a letter, let them debate every phrase, and see how long it takes and what you get.”
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“... 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.”
Catherine the Great, Russian empress
(1729 - 1796)
Sophia Augusta Frederica was officially Catherine II, but known as Catherine the Great.