Catherine assumed this role instinctively. What Russia needed, she believed, was a strong parental hand. As ruler, she was diligent and tireless. She got up early, drank strong black coffee, rubbed her face with a piece of ice, and wrote for several hours. Her rule was characterized by a quiet seriousness: "Speak with moderation,"she wrote, "and not too often, in order to avoid being troublesome to others.