Catherine: What if I had become Empress? If he had died. What do you think would have happened?

Leo: To us?

Catherine: To Russia. You think I would be good?

Leo: I think you would be exceptional, as you are.

Catherine: I turned out not exceptional. Not who I wish to be.

Leo: We are always not quite as good as we wish. As capable, as bright. It is the human way to fall short of ourselves. For our thoughts can be untouched by a hard reality, whereas our bodies and souls must bump against the world, and the world will even up the equation over who we are.

Catherine: You may, unfortunately, be right.