Catherine the Great

I am not a man, but I have the courage of a man.

The more I think, the more I am convinced that there is nothing more difficult than to govern men.

I have always been guided by my head, not my heart.

To be great, one must be cruel.

I will do what is necessary for Russia.

I consider myself a philosopher on the throne.

My greatest fault is my boundless love for glory.

I am not interested in what people say about me, only in what they do.

I have always been a woman, and I have always been a queen.

One must have a good digestion and a strong constitution to rule Russia.

I am a mother to my people, and I will protect them.

I have often regretted my words, but never my silence.

I have a man's mind, but a woman's body.

The more powerful a ruler, the more he needs to be educated.

I love to read, and I love to learn.

I have always believed that it is better to be feared than loved, if one cannot be both.