self-interest usually brings injustice with it.

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

you must be gay; only thus can life be endured. I speak from experience for I have had to endure much, and have only been able to endure it because I have always laughed whenever I had the chance.

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.

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.

Don't worry about things you cannot alter

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