All punishments by which the human body might be maimed are barbarbarism.

Happiness and unhappiness are in the heart and spirit of each one of us: If you feel unhappy, then place yourself above that and act so that your happiness does not get to be dependent on anything.

You philosophers are lucky men. You write on paper and paper is patient. Unfortunate Empress that I am, I write on the susceptible skins of living beings.

In politics a capable ruler must be guided by circumstances, conjectures and conjunctions.

The more a man knows, the more he forgives.

Nothing is more difficult, in my opinion, than to avoid something that fundamentally attracts you.

A great wind is blowing, and that gives you either imagination or a headache.

I sincerely want peace, not because I lack resources for war, but because I hate bloodshed.

One does not always do the best there is. One does the best one can.

it is better to inspire a reform than to enforce it.

Power without a nation's confidence is nothing.

Every relationship is a cost benefit calculation

I rose from marsh mudalgae, equisetum, willows, sweet green, noisybirds and frogs.

He who sees a gold bullion more valuable than a tree has surely an intelligence much less than a donkey’s!

A lot of people like to think that polio was a inspiration in what I do. I think that music has to do with what kind of passion do you have.

My first Top of the Pops I didn't want to do. I was terrified. I'd never done television before. Seeing the video afterwards was like watching myself die.

Kindness is a language herd by deaf men and felt by blind men.

I left the table where there were important people and had lunch with my husband and a few friends. The reception was organised in my honour, so it was rather amusing.

There are no training courses to make people bishops. You have to learn on the job.

Love will enter cloaked in friendship's name.

I like to take things one step at a time, because the entertainment industry is very uncertain.