Experience shows that the frequent use of severe punishment has never rendered a people better. The death of a criminal is a less effective means of restraining crimes than the permanent example of a man deprived of his liberty during the whole of his life to make amends for the injury he has done to the public.

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.

to tempt and be tempted are closely allied; and in spite of all the finest moral maxims buried in the mind, when emotion interferes, when feeling makes its appearance, one is already much further involved that one realizes, and I have still not learnt how to prevent its appearance.

In my position you have to read when you want to write and to talk when you would like to read.

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

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

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