Don’t worry about things you cannot alter.
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.
All this is only for the mice and myself to admire!
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.
In politics a capable ruler must be guided by circumstances, conjectures and conjunctions.
It is better to inspire a reform than to enforce it.
All punishments by which the human body might be maimed are barbarbarism.
Tell a thousand people to draft a letter, let them debate every phrase, and see how long it takes and what you get.
Men make love more intensely at 20, but make love better, however, at 30.
I am one of the people who love the why of things.
“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.
If I may venture to be frank I would say about myself that I was every inch a gentleman …
I have no way to defend my borders but to extend them.
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.
In my position you have to read when you want to write and to talk when you would like to read.
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.
If Russians knew how to read they would write me off.
I like to praise and reward in a loud voice and to scold in a whisper.
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.
Your wit makes others witty.
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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