82 Quotes by Frederick the Great

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.

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

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

N]either 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.

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.

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

It is impossible to imitate Voltaire without being Voltaire.

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.

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