58 Notable Quotes By Frederick The Great
A crown is merely a hat that lets the rain in.
Books make up no small part of human happiness.
Nowadays it is seen as a shame, to marry a girl who is a mother, who has never been married. I want to get rid of that prejudice.
The greatest and noblest pleasure which men can have in this world is to discover new truths; and the next is to shake off old prejudices.
Great things are achieved only when we take great risks.
The more I see of men, the better I like my dog.
Diplomacy without arms is like a concert without a score
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.
He who defends everything, defends nothing.
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.
Every man has a wild beast within him.
![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.]](https://www.wisdomly.net/images/quotes/frederick-the-great-90469.jpg)
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.]
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.
Diplomacy without military might is like music without instruments.
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.
Be more than you seem to be.
My people must drink beer.
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
If I wished to punish a province, I would have it governed by philosophers.
It is pardonable to be defeated, but never to be surprised.
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.
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.
It is impossible to imitate Voltaire without being Voltaire.
Artillery adds dignity, to what would otherwise be an ugly brawl.
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.
Every man must get to Heaven his own way.
I love opposition that has convictions.
A man with his heart in his profession imagines and finds resources where the worthless and lazy despair.
In trying to defend everything he defended nothing.
Being goal directed is not enough to conquer your enemy. To achieve your goal you need to know and be able to utilize all the resources available to you. This includes the knowledge of all those available to you as well as using the physical resources and those who control them.
