Quotes by Catherine the Great

About Catherine the Great:

Yekaterina Alexeyevna was the most renowned and the longest-ruling female leader of Russia, reigning from 1762 until her death in 1796 at the age of 67. She was born in Stettin, Pomerania, Prussia as Sophie Friederike Auguste von Anhalt-Zerbst-Dornburg, and came to power following a coup d'état when her husband, Peter III, was assassinated. Russia was revitalized under her reign, growing larger and stronger than ever and becoming recognized as one of the great powers of Europe.
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

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

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 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

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

Catherine the Great

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

Catherine the Great

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

Catherine the Great

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

Catherine the Great

I praise loudly. I blame softly.

Catherine the Great

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

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

Your wit makes others witty.

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

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

Catherine the Great

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

Catherine the Great

One cannot always know what children are thinking. Children are hard to understand, especially when careful training has accustomed them to obedience, and experience has made them cautious in their conversation with their teachers. Will you not draw ...

Catherine the Great

One cannot always know what children are thinking. Children are hard to understand, especially when careful training has a custom them to obedience and experience has made them cautious in conversation with their teachers.

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

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

Catherine the Great

Power without a nation's confidence is nothing.

Catherine the Great

Author Bio

  • NameCatherine the Great
  • DescriptionEmpress of Russia
  • AliasesCatherine the Great
  • BornMay 2, 1729
  • DiedNovember 17, 1796
  • CountryRussian Empire; Kingdom Of Prussia
  • ProfessionWriter
  • AwardsKnight Of The Order Of St. Alexander Nevsky; Order Of The White Eagle; Order Of The Black Eagle