- Grigory Potemkin: [Picking up papers] What would Your Majesty like me to do with these?
- Catherine the Great: Well, I can think of a place I would like you to put it, but I'm not minded to be vulgar. So give it back to Minister Panin. Maybe he can nibble on it for his tea; he's always been very good at eating his own words.
- Catherine the Great: It's a mistake to ask rich people for money. How do you think they got rich? By giving it away?