- The Fool: Why do people who declare war think they're going to win? Wouldn't they be better off not announcing who they're going to try and kill?
- Catherine the Great: Are you, um... interested in politics? The situation in France? Do you find that disturbing?
- Platon Zubov: I'm afraid I have absolutely no understanding of politics, Your Majesty.
- Catherine the Great: [laughs] Well, thank God for that! Anyone who says they understand politics is an idiot.
- Catherine the Great: When I was young, I dreamed of freedom. As people do when they are young. I dreamed of breaking chains. But as you get older, your choices narrow. So what did I do instead? I gave us an empire. Which is something.