Empress Dowager Cixi quotes

Empress Dowager Cixi was a powerful and influential regent of the late Qing dynasty in China. Her leadership shaped Chinese politics and society during a time of great upheaval and transformation. She is remembered both for her conservatism and for her efforts to maintain imperial rule in the face of modernization and external threats. Here are 6 of her quotes:

Your tail, is becoming too heavy to wag.

Empress Dowager Cixi

Had the foreign legations being subjected to the full force of bombardment, would those buildings still be intact today? (Original Chinese:設使火轟水灌，豈能一律保全？)

Empress Dowager Cixi

I have often thought that i am the most clever woman that ever lived, and others cannot compare with me.... Although I have heard much about Queen Victoria...I don't think her life was half so interesting and eventful as mine.... she had... really nothing to say about the policy of the country. Now look at me. I have 400,000,000 people dependent on my judgement.

Empress Dowager Cixi

Perhaps their magic is not to be relied upon; but can we not rely on the hearts and minds of the people? Today China is extremely weak. We have only the people's hearts and minds to depend upon. If we cast them aside and lose the people's hearts, what can we use to sustain the country?

Empress Dowager Cixi

"寧贈友邦,不與家奴." or 宁予於外盗, 不予於家贼. (We would rather give our state to "neighboring friends" (foreigners), not to our household slaves.

Empress Dowager Cixi