It is impossible to imitate Voltaire without being Voltaire. Frederick The Great More Quotes by Frederick The Great More Quotes From Frederick The Great Great things are achieved only when we take great risks. Frederick The Great great-riskgreat-thingsrisk If soldiers were to begin to think, not one of them would remain in the army. Frederick The Great armywarthinking 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. Frederick The Great imaginationeuropefiction The more I see of men, the better I like my dog. Frederick The Great doganimalmen 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.] Frederick The Great atheismmenheaven Diplomacy without military might is like music without instruments. Frederick The Great militarymightinteresting 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. Frederick The Great kingswarcountry 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. Frederick The Great hurtblowpeople 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. Frederick The Great militaryplaycharacter The greatest and noblest pleasure which we have in this world is to discover new truths, and the next is to shake off old prejudices. Frederick The Great diversitysadtruth Every man has a wild beast within him. Frederick The Great beastevery-manmen 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. Frederick The Great huntingcompassionmen 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. Frederick The Great militaryweathermen Theologians are all alike, of whatever religion or country they may be; their aim is always to wield despotic authority over men's consciences; they therefore persecute all of us who have the temerity to tell the truth. Frederick The Great atheismmencountry No government can exist without taxation. The money must necessarily be levied on the people; and the grand art consists of levying so as not to oppress. Frederick The Great governmentpeopleart You will certainly grant me that neither antiquity nor whatever nation has devised a more repulsive and blasphemous absurdity than that of eating your God. This is the most disgusting dogma of Christian religion, the greatest insult to the Highest Being, the climax of madness and insanity. Frederick The Great insultchristianinsanity 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. Frederick The Great kingsdrinkingwar A man with his heart in his profession imagines and finds resources where the worthless and lazy despair. Frederick The Great heartmenlife Artillery adds dignity, to what would otherwise be an ugly brawl. Frederick The Great uglymilitaryadd An educated people can be easily governed. Frederick The Great governmenteducationpeople
