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58 Notable Quotes By Frederick The Great

Famous As: Former King of Prussia (1740 - 1786)
Born On: January 24, 1712
Died On: August 17, 1786
Born In: Berlin, Germany
Died At Age: 74
Frederick II, also known as Frederick the Great, was the King of Prussia who belonged to the Hohenzollern dynasty and went on to become the longest ruling monarch from his dynasty. Frederick ruled for a period of 46 years in the 18th century and during his time as a monarch of Prussia, the country won significant military victories. In addition to that, he was a great patron of the arts and his reign coincided with the era that is popularly known as ‘the Enlightenment’. He was without doubt one of the greatest monarchs to have ruled Prussia and during his reign, the empire’s territories grew at an unprecedented rate. As a result, the people bestowed upon him the name 'Frederick the Great'. However, other than being an excellent military strategist, Frederick the Great was also interested in music and arts, which further cemented his place in history as one of the most noteworthy monarchs. Like all great monarchs he also left behind a treasure trove of quotes and thoughts on the aspects of statecraft, warfare, diplomacy and the arts during his illustrious life. Here is a collection of some of the greatest quotes and sayings attributed to Frederick the Great.
A crown is merely a hat that lets the rain in.

A crown is merely a hat that lets the rain in.

Frederick The Great
Books make up no small part of human happiness.

Books make up no small part of human happiness.

Frederick The Great
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.

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.

Frederick The Great
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.

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.

Frederick The Great
Great things are achieved only when we take great risks.

Great things are achieved only when we take great risks.

Frederick The Great
The more I see of men, the better I like my dog.

The more I see of men, the better I like my dog.

Frederick The Great
Diplomacy without arms is like a concert without a score

Diplomacy without arms is like a concert without a score

Frederick The Great

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
He who defends everything, defends nothing.

He who defends everything, defends nothing.

Frederick The Great
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.

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
Every man has a wild beast within him.

Every man has a wild beast within him.

Frederick The Great
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.]

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

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
Diplomacy without military might is like music without instruments.

Diplomacy without military might is like music without instruments.

Frederick The Great

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
Be more than you seem to be.

Be more than you seem to be.

Frederick The Great
My people must drink beer.

My people must drink beer.

Frederick The Great
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

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

Frederick The Great
If I wished to punish a province, I would have it governed by philosophers.

If I wished to punish a province, I would have it governed by philosophers.

Frederick The Great
It is pardonable to be defeated, but never to be surprised.

It is pardonable to be defeated, but never to be surprised.

Frederick The Great

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
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.

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.

Frederick The Great
It is impossible to imitate Voltaire without being Voltaire.

It is impossible to imitate Voltaire without being Voltaire.

Frederick The Great
Artillery adds dignity, to what would otherwise be an ugly brawl.

Artillery adds dignity, to what would otherwise be an ugly brawl.

Frederick The Great
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.

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
Every man must get to Heaven his own way.

Every man must get to Heaven his own way.

Frederick The Great
I love opposition that has convictions.

I love opposition that has convictions.

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

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

Frederick The Great
In trying to defend everything he defended nothing.

In trying to defend everything he defended nothing.

Frederick The Great

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.

Frederick The Great