Frederick the Great, Discussion Post 19

[cahn]

Yuletide nominations:

18th Century CE Federician RPF
Maria Theresia | Maria Theresa of Austria
Voltaire
Friedrich II von Preußen | Frederick the Great
Ernst Ahasverus von Lehndorff
Friedrich Heinrich Ludwig von Preußen | Henry of Prussia (1726-1802)
Wilhelmine von Preußen | Wilhelmine of Prussia (1709-1758)
Anna Amalie von Preußen | Anna Amalia of Prussia (1723-1787)
Catherine II of Russia
Hans Hermann von Katte
Peter Karl Christoph von Keith
Michael Gabriel Fredersdorf
August Wilhelm von Preußen | Augustus William of Prussia (1722-1758)

Circle of Voltaire RPF
Emilie du Chatelet
Jeanne Antoinette Poisson (Madame de Pompadour)
John Hervey (1696-1743)
Marie Louise Mignot Denis
Lady Mary Wortley-Montagu
Pierre Louis Moreau de Maupertuis
Armand de Vignerot du Plessis de Richelieu (1696-1788)
Francesco Algarotti

Comments

Re: Meeting Voltaire: as documented by James Boswell

[felis]

BOSWELL: When I came to see you, I thought to see a very great, but a very bad man.
VOLTAIRE: You are a very sincere.
BOSWELL: Yes, but the same sincerity makes me own that I find the contrary. Only, your Dictionaire philosophique troubles me. For instance, Ame, the soul - "
VOLTAIRE: That was a good article.
BOSWELL: No. Excuse me. Is it - immortality - not a pleasing imagination? Is it not more noble?
VOLTAIRE: Yes. You have a noble desire to be King of Europe. You say, 'I wish it, and I ask your protection in continuing to wish it.' But it is not probable.

Heee. The whole conversation is great, but this part in particular is very funny to me.

And wow, Boswell was shameless adept at getting himself invited indeed!

Re: Meeting Voltaire: as documented by James Boswell

[selenak]

Oh, Boswell had no shame when it came to gate-crashing, which makes him such a great 18th century diarist to read. One of the few encounters he didn't manage, alas, was getting an audience with Fritz, though not for lack of trying.

Re: Meeting Voltaire: as documented by James Boswell

[felis]

Ahaha, I think I'd read your Boswell entry before, but that second link was quite a ride. Love the I am certain something very ridiculous would happen on that Occasion quote. Too bad about the missed opportunity.
Also, while I knew he met Keith, I didn't know he was related to him! I'm kind of intrigued by Keith simply because he's Scottish he seems to have had a very trusted and laid-back relationship with Fritz, what with the lack of reported kerfuffles and basically being his closest neighbour until his death.