If I may venture to be frank I would say about myself that I was every inch a gentleman.

Nothing is more difficult, in my opinion, than to avoid something that fundamentally attracts you.

The more a man knows, the more he forgives.

I do not love strife, because I have always found that in the end each remains of the same opinion.

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

What right can give anyone authority to inflict torture upon a citizen when it is still unknown whether he is innocent or guilty?

I like to praise and reward loudly, to blame quietly.