Top 10 Quotes & Sayings by Frederick II, Holy Roman Emperor

We are made for action, and activity is the sovereign remedy for all physical ills.

An army, like a serpent, travels on its belly.

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

Do not forget your dogs of war, your big guns, which are the most-to-be respected arguments of the rights of kings.

The greatest and noblest pleasure we have in this world is to discover new truths, and the next is to shake off old prejudices... A man who seeks truth and loves it must be reckoned precious to any human society.

Without supplies no army is brave.

It is your attitude, and the suspicion that you are maturing the boldest designs against him, that imposes on your enemy.

They say that kings are made in the image of God. If that is what he looks like, I feel sorry for God.

Rascals, do you want to live forever?

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.