Quote #16

That the arrested man has committed blasphemy is a proof that he does not know God. That he has slandered me, I pardon him. But for his insulting of an honorable member of the council, he shall be punished as an example and be sent to Spandau prison for half an hour.

More from Frederick II of Prussia

  1. Religions must all be tolerated and the state has to keep an eye that none of them shall derogate the other, because here everyone must fin…
  2. 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.
  3. I am the first servant of my state.
  4. The monarch is a perpetual sentinel, who must watch... enemies of the state... it is not that he should remain the shadow of authority, but…
  5. Diplomacy without power is like an orchestra without instruments.
  6. The priest will stay. If he does not want to get up with the others on Judgement Day, he may well keep resting on his back.
  7. Before I endorse this sentence, I am curious to hear of the measures you want to employ for making a simple soldier pay 2000 Taler.
  8. Audacity, audacity, always audacity!

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