Inspirational quotes from frederick the great 🧠.

A crown is merely a hat that lets the rain in. Books make up no small part of human happiness. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. Artillery adds dignity to what would otherwise be an ugly brawl. 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. 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. It is impossible to imitate Voltaire without being Voltaire. I love opposition that has convictions. A man with his heart in his profession imagines and finds resources where the worthless and lazy despair. 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. Though I may not be a king in my future life, so much the better, I shall nevertheless live an active life and, on top of it, earn less in gratitude. One should never despair too soon. In trying to defend everything he defended nothing. 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. Do not neglect the principles of foresight and know that often, puffed up with success, armies have lost the fruit of their heroism through a feeling of false security. Our work is to present things that are as they are. It is the fashion these days to make war, and presumably it will last a while yet. Man is made for error, it enters his mind naturally, and he discovers a few truths only with the greatest effort. 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. As to your Newton, I confess I do not understand his void and his gravity, I admit he has demonstrated the movement of the heavenly bodies with more exactitude than his forerunners, but you will admit it is an absurdity too to maintain the existence of nothing. 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. Pleasure is the most real good in this life. The people say what they like and then I do what I like. An educated people can be easily governed. Always presume that the enemy has dangerous designs and always be forehand with the remedy. But do not let these calculations make you timid. 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. I have no fault to find with those who teach geometry. That science is the only one which has not produced sex. It is founded on analysis and on synthesis and on the calculus. It does not occupy itself with the probable truth. Moreover it has the same method in every country.