Catherine the Great

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

God, grant us our desires, and grant them quickly.

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

“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.

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

All punishments by which the human body might be maimed are barbarbarism.

I hate mankind, for I think myself one of the best of them, and I know how bad I am.

I have opinions of my own, strong opinions, but I don’t always agree with them.

Vision without execution is just hallucination.

The things you own end up owning you.

It is better to fail at your own life than to succeed at someone else’s.

The smart way to keep people passive and obedient is to strictly limit the spectrum of acceptable opinion, but allow very lively debate within that spectrum.

A hunch is creativity trying to tell you something.

I hope that while so many people are out smelling the flowers, someone is taking the time to plant some.

You can’t change what you don’t acknowledge.

Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man’s character, give him power.

There is power in forgiveness.

A good man often appears gauche simply because he does not take advantage of the myriad mean little chances of making himself look stylish. Preferring truth to form, he is not constantly at work upon the facade of his appearance.

Don’t go through life, GROW through life.

Great spirits have always found violent opposition from mediocrities. The latter cannot understand it when a man does not thoughtlessly submit to hereditary prejudices but honestly and courageously uses his intelligence.

People don’t like when you point out to them and remind them that they’re not very smart.