Quotes by Ivan the Terrible

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God forgives those who hang themselves rather than those who die for vanity.

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For everything bad that happened to us, the Germans were to blame!

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If you are evil, then why do you know how to do good to your children, and if you consider yourselves good and kind-hearted, then why do you not do good to our children as well as yours?

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How can the tree flourish if its roots have dried up? Likewise here: how long will there be no necessary order in the state, whence warlike valor? When a commander does not constantly strengthen his army, he will sooner be defeated than victorious. You, therefore, scorning all this, only praise valor, but on what exactly valor is founded - you do not care.

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It is not proper for noble men to quarrel like common men.

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Is it proper for the tsar, if he is struck on the cheek, to turn the other as well? How can the tsar reign, if he consents to be dishonest?

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To hunt rabbits, many dogs are needed, to defeat enemies, many warriors are needed. Who, then, in his right mind, will kill his subjects without cause?