Top 15 Helmut Kohl Quotes

We Germans have learned from history. We are a peace-loving, freedom-loving people. For us, love of our native country, love of freedom, and the spirit of being a good neighbor always belong together.

I knew that I could never win a referendum in Germany. We would have lost a referendum on the introduction of the Euro. That's quite clear. I would have lost and by seven to three…. If a Chancellor is trying to push something through, he must be a man of power. And if he's smart, he knows when the time is ripe. In one case – the Euro – I was like a dictator ... The Euro is a synonym for Europe. Europe, for the first time, has no more war.

Translation: This is the worst president since Hermann Göring.

Das ist der schlimmste Präsident seit Hermann Göring.

Translation: The German Reunification and unification of Europe are two sides of the same coin.

Die deutsche Einheit und die europäische Einigung sind zwei Seiten ein und derselben Medaille.

Translation: We will move to Berlin - but not to a new republic.

Wir gehen nach Berlin – aber nicht in eine neue Republik.

Translation: The visionaries of yesterday are the realists of today.

Die Visionäre von gestern sind die Realisten von heute.

Translation: We will cut in half unemployment and the number of foreigners living in Germany.

Wir werden die Arbeitslosigkeit und die Zahl der in Deutschland lebenden Ausländer um die Hälfte reduzieren.

Translation: The means of existence of our country will break down, once the watergates are open to the foreigners.

Die Existenzgrundlage unseres Landes geht kaputt, wenn erst die Schleusen für die Ausländer geöffnet sind.

Translation: This is a typical journalistic statement: It is correct, but it is not the truth.