Frederick the Great
Prussian king
Sayings by Frederick the Great
The more you sweat in peace, the less you bleed in war.
The King is the first servant of the State.
The world is a stage, and all the men and women merely players.
I consider a good retreat as a victory.
A well-regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed.
The greatest pleasure of a good general is to outwit his enemy.
To govern is to foresee.
I am tired of ruling over slaves.
The state is a machine; the king is the head, the people are the body.
To be a great general, one must be both brave and prudent.
I have conquered provinces, but I have not conquered myself.
The greatest advantage in war is to be able to choose your ground.
It is better to be feared than loved, if you cannot be both.
A well-trained soldier is worth a thousand raw recruits.
He who defends everything defends nothing.
The only way to keep a secret is to tell no one.
I am a philosopher, but I am also a king.
It is better to wear out than to rust out.
The greatest victories are those that are won without bloodshed.
Music is the food of the soul.