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.

Very early it was noticed that I had a good memory; therefore I was insistently tormented with learning everything by heart.

You were in a mood to quarrel. Please inform me once the inclination passes.

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.

Power without a nation’s confidence is nothing.

I sincerely want peace, not because I lack resources for war, but because I hate bloodshed.

It’s not selfish to love yourself, take care of yourself, and to make your happiness a priority. It’s necessary.

Happiness is unrepentant pleasure.

Be happy; without reason.

If you’re going to be able to look back on something and laugh about it, you might as well laugh about it now.

Happiness is an allegory, unhappiness a story.

Happiness is not something ready made. It comes from your own actions.

There is only one happiness in this life, to love and be loved.

The secret of happiness? Live life in the slow lane.

It’s time for you to claim the happiness that you deserve in your life.

But you know, happiness can be found even in the darkest of times, if one only remembers to turn on the light.

The best way to cheer yourself up is to try to cheer somebody else up.

Happiness, wealth, and success are the byproducts of goal setting; they cannot be the goals themselves.

Happy is harder than money. Anyone who thinks money will make them happy, doesn’t have money.

I think happiness is love.

I’m always smiling and happy.