Frederick II of Prussia quotes

Frederick II of Prussia was a renowned King of Prussia, often called Frederick the Great. His reign transformed Prussia into a leading European power through military victories, administrative reforms, and promotion of Enlightenment culture. He is remembered as a brilliant strategist, enlightened ruler, and patron of the arts. Here are 42 of his quotes:

Diplomacy without military might is like music without instruments.

Frederick II of Prussia

My people and I," he said, "have come to an agreement which satisfies us both. They are to say what they please, and I am to do what I please.

Frederick II of Prussia

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

Frederick II of Prussia

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 II of Prussia

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 II of Prussia

I think it better to keep a profound silence with regard to the Christian fables, which are canonized by their antiquity and the credulity of absurd and insipid people.

Frederick II of Prussia

Neither 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.

Frederick II of Prussia

Every man has a wild beast within him.

Frederick II of Prussia

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

Frederick II of Prussia

Rogues, would you live forever?

Frederick II of Prussia

I begin by taking. I shall find scholars later to demonstrate my perfect right.

Frederick II of Prussia

If the men were without passions, it would be forgivable to see Machiavel try to give some to them; he would be the new Prometheus bringing celestial fire to breathe life into robots. But no man is without passions. When they are moderated, they are the heart of the enterprise; but when the brake is stripped of them, they are its destruction.

Frederick II of Prussia

But France's powerful armies, and a very large number of fortresses, ensure that the French Sovereign will possess the throne forever, and they do not have anything to fear now concerning internal wars or their neighbors invading France.

Frederick II of Prussia

We humans are foolish in many ways: we want to conquer all as if we had all time, as if our lives did not have any end. Thus, our real time passes too quickly, and often when one believes that they are working only for themselves, they are in fact working for unworthy or ungrateful successors.

Frederick II of Prussia

(About Cesare Borgia) What cruelties were not the result of his? Who could count all his crimes? Such was the man that Machiavel prefers to all the great geniuses of his time, and to the heroes of antiquity, and of which he finds the life and action make a good example for those that fortune favors.

Frederick II of Prussia

Like a long boat which follows in the wake of the warship to which it is tied.

Frederick II of Prussia

"It is enough", this malicious man tells us, "to extinguish the line of the defeated prince." Can one read this without quivering in horror and indignation?

Frederick II of Prussia

It is a fact that princes who try to raise other princes with violence, end up destroying themselves.

Frederick II of Prussia

A single Voltaire will do more honor to France than a thousand pedants, a thousand false wits, a thousand great men of inferior order.

Frederick II of Prussia

(About the battle of Kunersdorf) "I shall not survive this cruel misfortune. The consequences will be worse than defeat itself. I have no resources left, and, to speak quite frankly I believe everything is lost. I shall not outlive the downfall of my country. Farewell, forever!"

Frederick II of Prussia

But a prince, when he binds himself, does not bind himself alone, otherwise he would be in the same position as a private individual. Instead, he exposes great countries and great provinces to a thousand misfortunes. Therefore, it is better that he should break his contract rather than that the people should perish.

Frederick II of Prussia

Only sneaky people and impostors can oppose the progress of sciences and can discredit them, because they are the only ones who are harmed by the sciences.

Frederick II of Prussia