Frederick II (1712–86) was King in Prussia of the Hohenzollern dynasty. He is best known for his military victories, his reorganization of Prussian armies, his innovative drills and tactics, and his final success against great odds in the Seven Years’ War. He became known as Frederick the Great and was nicknamed Der Alte Fritz.
Source: Wikipedia (via CC-BY-SA license) • READ: Works by Frederick II of Prussia
Religion is the idol of the mob; it adores everything it does not understand.
—Frederick II of Prussia
Topics: Religion
Every man must get to Heaven his own way.
—Frederick II of Prussia
Topics: Individuality, Appropriateness, Aptness
Man is made for error; it enters his mind naturally, and he discovers a few truths only with the greatest effort.
—Frederick II of Prussia
Don’t forget your great guns, which are the most respectable arguments of the rights of kings.
—Frederick II of Prussia
Topics: Royalty, Queens, Kings
Our work is to present things that are as they are.
—Frederick II of Prussia
Topics: Authors & Writing, Writers, Writing
If my soldiers were to begin to think, not one would remain in the ranks
—Frederick II of Prussia
Topics: Soldiers
It seems to me that man is made to act rather than to know: the principles of things escape our most persevering researches.
—Frederick II of Prussia
Topics: Knowledge, Action
What is the good of experience if you do not reflect.
—Frederick II of Prussia
Topics: Experience
They say that kings are made in the image of God. If that is what he looks like, I feel sorry for God.
—Frederick II of Prussia
Topics: Queens, Kings, Royalty
Truth is a thing immortal and perpetual, and it gives to us a beauty that fades not away in time.
—Frederick II of Prussia
Topics: Truth
In trying to defend everything he defended nothing.
—Frederick II of Prussia
Topics: Focus, Concentration
Of satires I think as Epictetus did: “If evil be said of thee, and if it be true, correct thyself; if it be a lie, laugh at it.” By dint of time and experience I have learned to be a good post-horse; I go through my appointed daily stage, and care not for the eurs who bark at me along the road.
—Frederick II of Prussia
If I wished to punish a province, I would have it governed by philosophers.
—Frederick II of Prussia
Topics: Philosophy, Philosophers
I love opposition that has convictions.
—Frederick II of Prussia
Topics: Dissent, Opposition
All religions must be tolerated… for… every man must get to heaven his own way.
—Frederick II of Prussia
Topics: Religion
Audacity, audacity-always audacity.
—Frederick II of Prussia
Topics: Courage
Rogues, would you live forever?
—Frederick II of Prussia
Topics: Army, Navy, The Military
An educated people can be easily governed.
—Frederick II of Prussia
Topics: Government
Talents go by nature not by birth.
—Frederick II of Prussia
Topics: Talent
I must in the face of a storm, think, live and die as a king.
—Frederick II of Prussia
Topics: Destiny
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 II of Prussia
Topics: Pleasure, Tolerance, Prejudice, Truth
Pleasure is the most real good in this life.
—Frederick II of Prussia
Topics: Pleasure
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