Catherine II the Great (Sophia Frederick Augusta of Anhalt-Zerbst) was born on April 21, 1729, in Stettin, Prussia. Empress of All Russia (1762-1796). The period of her reign is often considered the "golden age" of the Russian Empire. The Senate of the Russian Empire presented her with the epithets of Catherine the Great and the Wise Great Mother of the Fatherland. She died on November 6, 1796 in the Winter Palace, Petersburg.
Winners are not judged.
To manage means to anticipate.
There is nothing perfect in the world.
Minor weaknesses go away on their own.
Of all the most harmful lies, there is a vice.
Honor your parents at every age.
The people who sing and dance do not think evil.
There is no shame in admitting to a person in your mistake.
By doing a favor to your neighbor, you will do yourself a favor.
Whoever has not learned in his youth, old age is boring.
A great state cannot live without taking into account the population.
If you see the vices of your neighbor, do not show him your condemnation.
It is better to acquit ten guilty than to accuse one innocent.
It is much better to prevent crimes than to punish them.
The child shows gratitude to parents with humility and respect.
Who is envious or desires this and that, he will not wait for fun.
Such is the inevitable law that error always follows truth.
Having overcome any kind of labor, a person feels pleasure.
Every child is born unlearned. It is the duty of parents to teach their children.
Books are a mirror: although they do not speak, they declare every guilt and vice.
It is much easier to please everyone than to please everyone.
The first rule is to make people think they want it themselves.
A person with a mediocre mind, if he puts in the work, cannot be skillful.
Petty rules and pathetic refinements should not have access to your heart.
Whoever has fun and cannot have fun, he is sick or gives himself up to his thoughts into oppression.
If I were a man, I would certainly have been killed before I reached the rank of captain.
Swear words offend the mouth from which they come out as much as the ears into which they enter.
I get robbed just like everyone else, but this is a good sign and shows that there is something to steal.
The cure for stupidity has not yet been found. Reason and common sense are not like smallpox: you cannot instill.
Never let flatterers besiege you: let us feel that you love neither praise nor baseness.
It is fitting for a man to have patience in his labors and sufferings, but generosity towards people's faults and faults.
Show confidence only to those who have the courage to cross you on occasion and who prefer your good name to your grace.
A person with a good heart tries to turn every thing and deed into good; a person with a bad heart tries to find evil in good.
There is depravity in the house: if the hostess loves to listen to various lies, and after listening, with the addition, she says it to her husband, and the husband believes it.
Must. arouse in them (youth) a desire for diligence and so that they fear idleness, as the source of all evil and error.
Do good in order to do good, and not for the sake of gaining praise or gratitude. Good deeds bring rewards of their own.
To endure something in the heart that another could not endure is the experience of a firm soul, but to do that good that another could not do is a meritorious deed.
If a statesman errs, if he reasons badly, takes erroneous measures, then the whole nation experiences the pernicious consequences of this.
States in which there is no respect for the sovereign, rulers, in which they have no respect for either the elderly or fathers and mothers, are close to falling.
A skillful shooter, not hitting the target, does not lay blame on the bow or arrows, but requires an account from himself in the prophet: however, he does not lose courage and hunting for this.
Study people, try to use them without entrusting yourself to them indiscriminately; look for true dignity, even if it were at the end of the world: for the most part it is modest and “hiding somewhere” in the distance. Valor does not climb out of the crowd, is not greedy, does not fuss and allows you to forget about yourself.
Every parent should refrain in front of his children not only from deeds, but also from words that tend to injustice and violence, such as scolding, oaths, fights, all cruelty and similar actions, and not allow those who surround his children giving them such bad examples.
Be gentle, philanthropic, available, compassionate, and generous; let your greatness not prevent you from condescending good-naturedly to small people and putting yourself in their position so that this kindness never detracts from either your power or their respect. Listen to everything that deserves attention in any way; let everyone see that you think and feel the way you should think and feel. Act in such a way that good people love you, evil people are afraid and everyone respects you.
There is a position for a good housewife: to be quiet, modest, constant, cautious; to God zealous, to the father-in-law and mother-in-law respectful; treat your husband lovingly and decently, teach small children to justice and love for one's neighbor; in front of relatives and in-laws to be courteous, to listen to kind speeches willingly, to shun lies and slyness; not to be idle, but diligent in every product and thrifty in expenses.
- Empress of the Russian Empire in the second half of the 18th century.
Ivan Argunov "Portrait of Catherine II" 
The reign of Catherine the Great is called the "golden age of the Russian Empire" and "enlightened absolutism", as her policy was aimed at the revival of science, art and education.
A.N. Benoit. Exit of Empress Catherine II - 1912 
On the other hand, it was under her that the norms of serfdom were improved, corruption flourished, and the domestic and foreign policy of the state became tougher.
Quotes, aphorisms, sayings - Catherine II:
Presentation of the letter to Catherine II
1. Be gentle, philanthropic, available, compassionate, and generous. May your greatness not prevent you from condescending to small people with good nature and putting yourself in their position so that this kindness never diminishes either your power or their respect.
2. Russia itself is the universe and it does not need anyone.
3. Sloth is a bad teacher.
4. A skillful shooter, not hitting the target, does not put blame on the bow or arrows.
5. An artist paints with the eyes of love, and only the eyes of love should judge them.
6. Winners are not judged.
7. Courtesy is based on not having a bad opinion of yourself or your neighbor.
8. Laws that do not preserve the measure of good are the reason that immeasurable evil is born from here.
9. There is nothing more dangerous than wanting to make regulations for everything.
10. There is nothing perfect in the light.
11. It is much easier to please everyone than to please everyone.
Lomonosov shows Catherine II his own mosaics in his office 
12. Double-mindedness is alien to great people: they despise all baseness.
13. Never let flatterers besiege you: let us feel that you do not like either praise or baseness.
14. It is better to study all the time than to remain ignorant.
15.In Russia, everything is a secret, but there are no secrets.
16. I sew alone, and everyone flogs.
17.There is no people about which so many lies, absurdities and slander would be invented as the Russian people.
18. Teaching adorns a person in happiness, but serves as a refuge in misfortune.
19. The Russian people are a special people in the world, which is distinguished by conjecture, intelligence, strength. God gave the Russians special properties.
20. A person with a good heart tries to turn every thing and deed into good. A person with a bad heart tries to find evil in good.
21. By doing good to your neighbor, you will do good to yourself.
22. Show confidence only to those who have the courage to cross you on occasion, and who prefer your good name to your grace.
Torelli Stefano. "Portrait of Empress Catherine II" 
23. Do good in order to do good, and not for the sake of gaining praise or gratitude. Good deeds bring rewards of their own.
24. Who sings does not think evil.
25. Of all the most harmful lies, there is a vice.
26. It is much better to prevent crimes than to punish them.
27. Paper endures everything.
28. The cure for stupidity has not yet been found. Reason and common sense are not like smallpox: they cannot be vaccinated.
29. Such is the inevitable law that error always follows truth.
30. A conversation with the ignorant sometimes teaches more than a conversation with the learned.
31. A child shows gratitude to parents with humility and reverence.
32. I cannot be judged until a few years have passed. I need at least five years to restore order, and yet with all the sovereigns of Europe I behave like a skillful coquette.
33. Since we make mistakes, we must make them beautifully.
34. Minor weaknesses pass by themselves.
35. Whoever is accustomed to work, work is made easier for him.
36. Whoever has not learned in his youth, old age is boring.
37. If my age was afraid of me, it was deeply wrong. I wanted to be loved and respected because I deserve it.
38. Who is envious or desires this and that, he will not wait for fun.
40. A very bad policy is that which remakes by laws what ought to be changed by customs.
41. Petty rules and pathetic refinements should not have access to your heart.
42. Honor your parents at every age.
Elena Dovedova. Catherine II with her grandson Alexander. 
43. States in which there is no respect for the sovereign, rulers, in which they have no respect for either the elderly or fathers and mothers, are close to falling.
44. I have the honor to be Russian, I am proud of it, I will defend my homeland with my tongue, and with a pen, and with a sword - as long as I have enough life.
45. Study people, try to use them without trusting them indiscriminately. Look for true dignity, even if it were at the end of the world: for the most part, it is modest and hides somewhere in the distance. Valor does not climb out of the crowd, is not greedy, does not fuss and allows you to forget about yourself.
46. There is no shame in admitting a mistake to a person.
47. Every child will be born unlearned. It is the duty of parents to teach their children.
48. The people who sing and dance do not think evil.
49. People themselves are often the cause of their own happiness and unhappiness.
50. To manage means to foresee.
51. The human race is generally inclined towards injustice.
52. Swearing words offend the mouth from which they issue, as much as the ears into which they enter.
53. Whoever is satisfied with his condition, to live happily.
54. Labor is overcome by labor.
55. Politics is not a hospital. Those who are weak are pulled forward with their heels.
56. If I were a man, I would certainly have been killed without reaching the rank of captain.
57. Having overcome any kind of labor, a person feels pleasure.
58. A great state cannot live without taking into account the population.
59. When issuing a law, put yourself in the place of the one who must obey it.
60. All politics is summed up in three words: circumstance, conjecture, chance. You need to be very firm in your decisions, because only the weak-minded are indecisive.
61. Every Russian in the depths of his soul does not like a single foreigner.
62. You need to act slowly, with caution and with reason.
63. I always believed in predictions if they coincided with my desires.
64. To endure something in the heart that another could not endure is the experience of a firm soul, but to do that good that another could not do is a meritorious deed.
65. About the art of government: the first rule is to make people think that they themselves want it.
66. I will be an autocrat: this is my position. And the Lord God will forgive me: this is his position.
67. I get robbed just like everyone else, but this is a good sign and shows that there is something to steal.
68. If a statesman errs, if he reasons badly, takes erroneous measures, then the whole nation experiences the pernicious consequences of this. You need to ask yourself often: is this undertaking fair? Is it helpful?
69. Thoughts caused by the very course of events do not originate in one head at once.
70. A reasonable person is not ashamed to study even in perfect years, which he did not finish studying in his youth.
71. Drunken people are easier to manage.
72. Idleness is the mother of boredom and many vices.
73. It is proper for a man to have patience in his labors and sufferings, but generosity towards human guilt and errors.
74. He who does not dare to think, dares only to grovel.
If a statesman errs, if he reasons badly, takes erroneous measures, then the whole nation experiences the pernicious consequences of this. You need to ask yourself often: is this undertaking fair? Is it helpful? First of all, the statesman should bear in mind the following five subjects: 1. One must enlighten the nation which he is to govern. 2. It is necessary to introduce good order in the state, to support society and force it to comply with the laws. 3. It is necessary to establish a good and accurate police in the state. 4. It is necessary to promote the flowering of the state and make it abundant.
It is necessary to create a state that is formidable in itself and inspires respect for its neighbors. Every citizen must be educated in the consciousness of duty to the Supreme Being, to himself, to society, and he must be taught some of the arts, without which he almost cannot do in everyday life.
States in which there is no respect for the sovereign, rulers, in which they have no respect for either the elderly or fathers and mothers, are close to falling.
The child shows gratitude to parents with humility and respect.
There is a position for a good housewife: to be quiet, modest, constant, cautious; zealous to God, to the father-in-law and mother-in-law respectful; treat your husband lovingly and decently, teach small children to justice and love for one's neighbor; in front of relatives and in-laws to be courteous, to listen to kind speeches willingly, to shun lies and slyness; not to be idle, but diligent in every product and thrifty in expenses.
Who is envious or desires this and that, he will not wait for fun.
Books are a mirror: although they do not speak, they declare every guilt and vice.
Study people, try to use them without entrusting yourself to them indiscriminately; look for true dignity, even if it were at the end of the world: for the most part it is modest and “hiding somewhere” in the distance. Valor does not climb out of the crowd, is not greedy, does not fuss and allows you to forget about yourself.
If you see the vices of your neighbor, do not show him your condemnation.
It is much better to prevent crimes than to punish them.
Every parent should refrain in front of his children not only from deeds, but also from words that tend to injustice and violence, such as scolding, oaths, fights, all cruelty and similar actions, and not allow those who surround his children giving them such bad examples.
Honor your parents at every age.
Every child is born unlearned. It is the duty of parents to teach their children.
Swear words offend the mouth from which they come out as much as the ears into which they enter.
Whoever has not learned in his youth, old age is boring.
It should arouse in them (youth) a desire for diligence and that they should be afraid of idleness, as the source of all evil and error.
on other topics
Be gentle, philanthropic, available, compassionate, and generous; let your greatness not prevent you from condescending good-naturedly to small people and putting yourself in their position so that this kindness never detracts from either your power or their respect. Listen to everything that deserves attention in any way; let everyone see that you think and feel the way you should think and feel. Act in such a way that good people love you, evil people are afraid and everyone respects you.
There is nothing perfect in the world.
It is proper for a man to have patience in his labors and sufferings, but generosity towards human guilt and errors.
A skillful shooter, not hitting the target, does not lay blame on the bow or arrows, but requires a report from himself in the prophet: however, for this he does not lose his good spirits and hunting.
Whoever has fun and cannot have fun, he is sick or gives himself over to his thoughts into oppression.
Catherine II the Great, (1729–1796), empress
Every Russian in the depths of his soul does not like a single foreigner.
Men in their twenties make love more passionately, but in their thirties they make love much better.
Fear can kill crime, but it also kills virtue. Who does not dare to think, dares only to grovel.
The first rule is to make people think they want it themselves. (On the art of government)
I get robbed in the same way as others, but this is a good sign and shows that there is something to steal.
There is no cure for stupidity yet. Reason and common sense are not like smallpox: they cannot be vaccinated.
A very bad policy is that which remakes by laws what ought to be changed by customs.
Laws that do not preserve measure in good are the reason that from here immeasurable evil is born.
There is nothing more dangerous than wanting to make regulations for everything.
When making a law, put yourself in the place of the one who must obey it.
The people are by nature restless, ungrateful and full of scammers and people who, under the pretext of zeal, are only looking for how to turn everything that is suitable for them to their advantage.
Thoughts caused by the very course of events are born at once in more than one head.
It also happens that people claim something that they really do not know, just to find out if they guessed correctly.
Whoever says what he wants will hear what he does not want.
I sew alone, and everyone flogs.
The human race is generally inclined towards injustice.
Who sings does not think evil.
Courtesy is based on not having a bad opinion of yourself or your neighbor.
I seem to be becoming like the Shah of Bahama, who always ended his reasoning with the words: "It's not my fault if you don't understand me, I understand myself very well."
Cursing words offend the mouth from which they issue as much as the ears into which they enter.
Be gentle, philanthropic, available, compassionate, and generous; let your greatness not prevent you from condescending to small people good-naturedly and putting yourself in their position, so that this kindness never diminishes either your power or their respect.
Listen to everything that deserves attention in any way; let everyone see that you think and feel the way you should think and feel. Act in such a way that good people love you, evil people are afraid and everyone respects you.
Honor your parents at every age.
There is nothing perfect in the world.
It is fitting for a man to have patience in his labors and sufferings, but generosity towards human guilt and faults.
Every parent should refrain in front of his children not only from deeds, but also from words that tend to injustice and violence, such as: scolding, swearing, fighting, all cruelty and similar actions, and not allowing those who surround his children giving them such bad examples.
Every child is born unlearned. It is the duty of parents to teach their children.
It is much better to prevent crimes than to punish them.
Double-mindedness is alien to great people: they despise all baseness.
The child shows gratitude to parents with humility and respect.
There is a position for a good housewife: to be quiet, modest, constant, cautious; to God zealous, to the father-in-law and mother-in-law respectful; treat your husband lovingly and decently, teach small children to justice and love for one's neighbor; in front of relatives and in-laws to be courteous, to listen to kind speeches willingly, to shun lies and slyness; not to be idle, but diligent in every product and thrifty in expenses.
It should ... arouse in them (youth) a desire for industriousness and that they fear idleness, as the source of all evil and error.
Study people, try to use them without entrusting yourself to them indiscriminately; look for true dignity, even if it be at the end of the world: for the most part it is modest and (hidden somewhere) in the distance. Valor does not climb out of the crowd, is not greedy, does not fuss and allows you to forget about yourself.
A skillful shooter, not hitting the target, does not lay blame on the bow or arrow, but requires an account from himself in the prophet: however, for this he does not lose his good spirits and hunting.
Books are mirrors, although they do not speak, they declare every fault and vice.
Who is envious or desires this and that, he will not wait for fun.
Whoever has fun and cannot have fun, he is sick, or gives himself up to his thoughts into oppression.
Whoever has not learned in his youth, old age is boring.
Whoever is accustomed to work, work is made easier for him.
Whoever is satisfied with his condition, to live happily.
Sloth is a bad teacher.
Lying is the most harmful of all vices.
It is better to study all the time than to remain ignorant.
It is better to acquit ten guilty than to accuse one innocent.
Love for the fatherland, shame and fear of reproach are taming means and able to restrain many crimes.
People are often the cause of their own happiness and unhappiness.
Petty rules and pathetic refinements should not have access to your heart.
There is no shame in admitting to a person in your mistake.
Never let flatterers besiege you: let us feel that you love neither praise nor baseness.
Show confidence only to those who have the courage to cross you on occasion and who prefer your good name to your grace.
The rules of education are the first foundations that prepare us to be citizens.
Idleness is the mother of boredom and many vices.
Having overcome any kind of labor, a person feels pleasure.
Winners are not judged.
Talking with the ignorant is sometimes more instructive than talking with the learned.
An intelligent person can always find an exercise.
A reasonable person is not ashamed to study even in perfect years, which he did not finish studying in his youth.
The most reliable, but also the most difficult means of making people the best is to bring education to perfection.
By doing a favor to your neighbor, you will do yourself a favor.
Do good in order to do good, and not for the sake of gaining praise or gratitude. Good deeds bring rewards of their own.
To endure something in the heart that another could not endure is the experience of a firm soul, but to do that good that another could not do is a laudable deed.
Conscience is an inner, closed luminary, which illuminates only the person himself, and speaks to him in a quiet voice without a sound; gently touching the soul, brings it to life, and following a person everywhere, does not give him mercy in any case.
Labor is overcome by labor.
Teaching adorns a person in happiness, but serves as a refuge in misfortune.
Keep in yourself those great spiritual qualities that make up the distinctive identity of an honest person, a great person and a hero. Beware of any artificiality. May the contagion of vulgarity not darken your ancient taste for honor and valor.
A person with a mediocre mind, if he puts in the work, can be skillful.
A person with a good heart tries to turn every thing and deed into good; a person with a bad heart tries to find evil in good. It doesn't take much sense to discredit something. If you see the vices of your neighbor, do not show him your condemnation.
Catherine II the Great (Sophia Frederick Augusta of Anhalt-Zerbst) was born on April 21, 1729, in Stettin, Prussia. Empress of All Russia (1762-1796). The period of her reign is often considered the "golden age" of the Russian Empire. The Senate of the Russian Empire presented her with the epithets of Catherine the Great and the Wise Great Mother of the Fatherland. She died on November 6, 1796 in the Winter Palace, Petersburg.
Aphorisms, quotes, sayings, phrases Catherine II the Great
- Winners are not judged.
- To manage means to anticipate.
- There is nothing perfect in the world.
- Minor weaknesses go away on their own.
- Of all the most harmful lies, there is a vice.
- I praise loudly, and I condemn in an undertone.
- Honor your parents at every age.
- The people who sing and dance do not think evil.
- There is no shame in admitting to a person in your mistake.
- By doing a favor to your neighbor, you will do yourself a favor.
- Whoever has not learned in his youth, old age is boring.
- A great state cannot live without taking into account the population.
- If you see the vices of your neighbor, do not show him your condemnation.
- It is better to acquit ten guilty than to accuse one innocent.
- It is much better to prevent crimes than to punish them.
- The child shows gratitude to parents with humility and respect.
- Who is envious or desires this and that, he will not wait for fun.
- Such is the inevitable law that error always follows truth.
- Having overcome any kind of labor, a person feels pleasure.
- Every child is born unlearned. It is the duty of parents to teach their children.
- Books are a mirror: although they do not speak, they declare every guilt and vice.
- It is much easier to please everyone than to please everyone.
- The first rule is to make people think they want it themselves.
- A person with a mediocre mind, if he puts in the work, cannot be skillful.
- Petty rules and pathetic refinements should not have access to your heart.
- Whoever has fun and cannot have fun, he is sick or gives himself up to his thoughts into oppression.
- If I were a man, I would certainly have been killed before I reached the rank of captain.
- Swear words offend the mouth from which they come out as much as the ears into which they enter.
- I get robbed just like everyone else, but this is a good sign and shows that there is something to steal.
- The cure for stupidity has not yet been found. Reason and common sense are not like smallpox: you cannot instill.
- Never let flatterers besiege you: let us feel that you love neither praise nor baseness.
- It is proper for a man to have patience in his labors and sufferings, but generosity towards human guilt and errors.
- Show confidence only to those who have the courage to cross you on occasion and who prefer your good name to your grace.
- A person with a good heart tries to turn every thing and deed into good; a person with a bad heart tries to find evil in good.
- There is depravity in the house: if the hostess loves to listen to various lies, and after listening, with the addition, she says it to her husband, and the husband believes it.
- Must. arouse in them (youth) a desire for diligence and so that they fear idleness, as the source of all evil and error.
- Do good in order to do good, and not for the sake of gaining praise or gratitude. Good deeds bring rewards of their own.
- To endure something in the heart that another could not endure is the experience of a firm soul, but to do that good that another could not do is a meritorious deed.
- If a statesman errs, if he reasons badly, takes erroneous measures, then the whole nation experiences the pernicious consequences of this.
- States in which there is no respect for the sovereign, rulers, in which they have no respect for either the elderly or fathers and mothers, are close to falling.
- A skillful shooter, not hitting the target, does not lay blame on the bow or arrows, but requires an account from himself in the prophet: however, he does not lose courage and hunting for this.
- Study people, try to use them without entrusting yourself to them indiscriminately; look for true dignity, even if it were at the end of the world: for the most part it is modest and “hiding somewhere” in the distance. Valor does not climb out of the crowd, is not greedy, does not fuss and allows you to forget about yourself.
- Every parent should refrain in front of his children not only from deeds, but also from words that tend to injustice and violence, such as scolding, oaths, fights, all cruelty and similar actions, and not allow those who surround his children giving them such bad examples.
- Be gentle, philanthropic, available, compassionate, and generous; let your greatness not prevent you from condescending good-naturedly to small people and putting yourself in their position so that this kindness never detracts from either your power or their respect. Listen to everything that deserves attention in any way; let everyone see that you think and feel the way you should think and feel. Act in such a way that good people love you, evil people are afraid and everyone respects you.
- There is a position for a good housewife: to be quiet, modest, constant, cautious; to God zealous, to the father-in-law and mother-in-law respectful; treat your husband lovingly and decently, teach small children to justice and love for one's neighbor; in front of relatives and in-laws to be courteous, to listen to kind speeches willingly, to shun lies and slyness; not to be idle, but diligent in every product and thrifty in expenses.
