The More A Man Knows The

This aphorism is attributed to Catherine the Great from her correspondence and is consistent with themes in her Nakaz (Instruction to the Legislative Commission, 1767), which drew heavily on Montesquieu and Beccaria to argue for enlightened governance. Catherine commissioned translations of European philosophical texts and corresponded with leading thinkers in part because she believed rulers who understood human nature governed more justly and effectively. The sentiment aligns with Enlightenment ideals she actively promoted, even as critics noted that her policies did not always match her philosophical professions.