Frederick II, `Frederick the Great’

What is the good of experience if you do not reflect?

The greatest and noblest pleasure which we have in this world is to discover new truths, and the next is to shake off old prejudices.

Religion is the idol of the mob; it adores everything it does not understand.

He who defends everything defends nothing.

All religions must be tolerated, and the sole concern of the authorities should be to see that one does not molest another, for here every man must be saved in his own way.

The greatest and noblest pleasure we have in this world is to discover new truths, and the next is to shake off old prejudices... A man who seeks truth and loves it must be reckoned precious to any human society.

Prudence is very inclined to preserve what one possesses, but courage alone knows how to acquire.

When I find any officer that answers me with firmness, intelligence, and clearness, I set him down in my list for making use of his service on proper occasions.

The finest day of life is that on which one quits it.

Men are not judged by their words… but by their actions.

Every man must get to heaven his own way.

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

A man that seeks truth and loves it must be reckoned precious to any human society.

All religions must be tolerated, for every man must get to heaven in his own way.

If my soldiers were to begin to think, not one would remain in the ranks.

Every man is a hypocrite.