To tempt, and to be tempted, are things very nearly allied, and, in spite of the finest maxims of morality impressed upon the mind, 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, and I have yet to learn how it is possible to prevent its being excited.

Praise is the only gift for which people are really grateful. Marguerite, Countess of Blessington I praise loudly; I blame softly.

[On Peter III:] He did not have a bad heart; but a weak man usually has not.

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

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

it is better to inspire a reform than to enforce it.

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