Catherine the Great

Power without a nation's confidence is nothing.

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

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.

I beg you take courage the brave soul can mend even disaster.

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.