Catherine the Great

Catherine II of Russia (1729 - 1796), surnamed the Great, born Sophie of Anhalt-Zerbst, was the last reigning Empress Regnant of Russia (1762-1796) and the country's longest-ruling female empress. It was under her reign, Russia grew larger, its culture was revitalised, and it was recognised as one of the great powers of Europe.

Wisdom & Quotes

• Men make love more intensely at twenty, but make love better, however, at thirty.

- letter to Voltaire, in The Complete Works of Catherine II, Evdokimove, ed.

• For to tempt and to be tempted are things very nearly allied, and in spite of the finest maxims of morality impressed upon mind, whenever feeling has anything to do in the matter, no sooner is it excited than we have already gone vastly farther than we are aware of.

- Memoirs

Gotthold Ephraim Lessing