Frederick The Great Quotes

It is the fashion these days to make war, and presumably it will last a while yet.

In trying to defend everything he defended nothing.

Christianity is an old metaphysical fiction, stuffed with fables, contradictions and absurdities: it was spawned in the fevered imagination of the Orientals, and then spread to our Europe, where some fanatics espoused it, where some intriguers pretended to be convinced by it and where some imbeciles actually believed it.

Books make up no small part of human happiness.

I think it better to keep a profound silence with regard to the Christian fables, which are canonized by their antiquity and the credulity of absurd and insipid people.

Christianity - An old metaphysical romance, filled with marvels, contradictions, and absurdity, born in the ardent imagination of Orientals, has spread into our Europe. Enthusiasts have purveyed it, careerists have pretended to accept it, imbeciles have believed it.

If I wished to punish a province, I would have it governed by philosophers.

Pleasure is the most real good in this life.

Many battles have been fought and won by soldiers nourished on beer, and the King does not believe that coffee-drinking soldiers can be relied upon to endure hardships in case of another war.

It is disgusting to note the increase in the quantity of coffee used by my subjects and the amount of money that goes out of the country in consequence. Everybody is using coffee. If possible, this must be prevented. My people must drink beer.

Every man must get to Heaven his own way.

A man with his heart in his profession imagines and finds resources where the worthless and lazy despair.

I am up and about when I am ill, and in the most appalling weather. I am on horseback when other men would be flat out on their beds, complaining. We are made for action, and activity is the sovereign remedy for all physical ills.

It is pardonable to be defeated, but never to be surprised.

All religions must be tolerated ... every man must go to heaven in his own way. [Die Religionen müssen alle toleriert werden ... denn hier muss ein jeder nach seiner Fasson selig werden.]

Little minds try to defend everything at once, but sensible people look at the main point only; they parry the worst blows and stand a little hurt if thereby they avoid a greater one. If you try to hold everything, you hold nothing.

Great advantage is drawn from knowledge of your adversary, and when you know the measure of his intelligence and character, you can use it to play on his weakness.

A crown is merely a hat that lets the rain in.

A man, who can, in cold blood, hunt and torture a poor, innocent animal, cannot feel much compassion for the distress of his own species.

A king is the first servant and first magistrate of the state.

One should never despair too soon.

It has been said by a certain general, that the first object in the establishment of an army ought to be making provision for the belly, that being the basis and foundation of all operations.

Theologians are all alike, of whatever religion or country they may be; their aim is always to wield despotic authority over men's consciences; they therefore persecute all of us who have the temerity to tell the truth.

A German singer! I should as soon expect to get pleasure from the neighing of my horse.

An educated people can be easily governed.

Great things are achieved only when we take great risks.

Everybody is using coffee. If possible, this must be prevented. My people must drink beer.

God is always with the strongest battalions.

My people and I have come to an agreement which satisfies us both. They are to do what they please, and I am to do what I please.

Be more than you seem to be.

The greatest and noblest pleasure which we have in this world is to discover new truths, and the next is to shake off old prejudices.

If soldiers were to begin to think, not one of them would remain in the army.

Do not neglect the principles of foresight and know that often, puffed up with success, armies have lost the fruit of their heroism through a feeling of false security.

The people say what they like and then I do what I like

It is impossible to imitate Voltaire without being Voltaire.

Neither antiquity nor any other nation has imagined a more atrocious and blasphemous absurdity than that of eating God. This is how Christians treat the autocrat of the universe.

Though I may not be a king in my future life, so much the better: I shall nevertheless live an active life and, on top of it, earn less ingratitude.

No government can exist without taxation. The money must necessarily be levied on the people; and the grand art consists of levying so as not to oppress.

To your care and recommendation am I indebted for having replaced a half-blind mathematician with a mathematician with both eyes, which will especially please the anatomical members of my Academy.

Every man has a wild beast within him.

Our work is to present things that are as they are.

I have no fault to find with those who teach geometry. That science is the only one which has not produced sects; it is founded on analysis and on synthesis and on the calculus; it does not occupy itself with the probable truth; moreover it has the same method in every country.

Man is made for error; it enters his mind naturally, and he discovers a few truths only with the greatest effort.

It is disgusting to notice the increase in the quantity of coffee used by my subjects, and the amount of money that goes out of the country as a consequence. Everybody is using coffee; this must be prevented. His Majesty was brought up on beer, and so were both his ancestors and officers. Many battles have been fought and won by soldiers nourished on beer, and the King does not believe that coffee-drinking soldiers can be relied upon to endure hardships in case of another war.

Diplomacy without military might is like music without instruments.

The more I see of men, the better I like my dog.

Artillery adds dignity, to what would otherwise be an ugly brawl.

Many battles have been fought and won by soldiers nourished on beer.