“We have too many Jews in the towns. They are needed on the Polish border because in these areas Hebrews alone perform trade. As soon as you get away from the frontier, the Jews become a disadvantage, they form cliques, they deal in contraband and get up to all manner of rascally tricks which are detrimental to Christian burghers and merchants. I have never persecuted anyone from this or any other sect; I think, however, it would be prudent to pay attention, so that their numbers do not increase.”
More from Frederick the Great
“Christianity…is an old metaphysical fiction, stuffed with fables, contradictions and…”
“Books make up no small part of human happiness.”
“If it is bad to debase the innocence of a private individual, whose influence on the…”
“Compare Holland with Russia; you see only marshy and sterile islands in the former, which…”