Frederick Ii Quotes & Sayings

The most certain way of ensuring victory is to march briskly and in good order against the enemy, always endeavouring to gain ground. — Frederick II, Holy Roman Emperor

It is your attitude, and the suspicion that you are maturing the boldest designs against him, that imposes on your enemy. — Frederick II, Holy Roman Emperor

We are made for action, and activity is the sovereign remedy for all physical ills. — Frederick II, Holy Roman Emperor

An army, like a serpent, travels on its belly. — Frederick II, Holy Roman Emperor

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, Holy Roman Emperor

In editing a volume of Washington's private letters for the Long Island Historical Society, I have been much impressed by indications that this great historic personality represented the Liberal religious tendency of his time. That tendency was to respect religious organizations as part of the social order, which required some minister to visit the sick, bury the dead, and perform marriages. It was considered in nowise inconsistent with disbelief of the clergyman's doctrines to contribute to his support, or even to be a vestryman in his church.
In his many letters to his adopted nephew and younger relatives, he admonishes them about their manners and morals, but in no case have I been able to discover any suggestion that they should read the Bible, keep the Sabbath, go to church, or any warning against Infidelity.
Washington had in his library the writings of Paine, Priestley, Voltaire, Frederick the Great, and other heretical works.
[The Religion of Washington] — Moncure D. Conway

Rascals, do you want to live forever? — Frederick II, Holy Roman Emperor

The ruler is the first servant of the state. He is paid well so that he can maintain the dignity of his office. But he is required in return to work effectively for the well-being of the state. — Frederick II Of Hohenstaufen

A defensive war is apt to betray us into too frequent detachment. Those generals who have had but little experience attempt to protect every point, while those who are better acquainted with their profession, having only the capital object in view, guard against a decisive blow, and acquiesce in small misfortunes to avoid greater. — Frederick II, Holy Roman Emperor

He (Frederick II) famously describe Poland as an 'artichoke, ready to be consumed leaf by leaf — Christopher Clark

Culturally, however, Sicily had great advantages. Muslim, Byzantine, Italian, and German civilization met and mingled there as nowhere else. Greek and Arabic were still living languages in Sicily. Frederick learnt to speak six languages fluently, and in all six he was witty. He was at home in Arabian philosophy, and had friendly relations with Mohammedans, which scandalized pious Christians. He was a Hohenstaufen, and in Germany could count as a German. But in culture and sentiment he was Italian, with a tincture of Byzantine and Arab. His contemporaries gazed upon him with astonishment gradually turning into horror; they called him 'wonder of the world and marvellous innovator'. — Bertrand Russell

Without supplies no army is brave. — Frederick II, Holy Roman Emperor

Do not forget your dogs of war, your big guns, which are the most-to-be respected arguments of the rights of kings. — Frederick II, Holy Roman Emperor