Otto von Bismarck Quotes

The labours which we are about to undertake to regulate and develop the commercial relations of our countrymen with that Continent, and to render a service alike to the cause of peace and humanity. (Berlin Conference)

Laws are like sausages. It's better not to see them being made.

An agreement between Russia and the German foe of for joint action, military and political, against the Polish ‘Bruderstamm’ movement was a decisive blow to the views of the philo-Polish party at the Russian court. ... The convention said ‘checkmate’ in the game which anti-Polish monarchism was then playing against philo-Polish Panslavism within the Russian cabinet.

Preventive war is like committing suicide out of fear of death.

I should like to see the State, which for the most part consists of Christians—although you reject the name Christian State—penetrated to some extent by the principles of the religion it professes; especially as concerns the help one gives to his neighbour, and sympathy with the lot of old and suffering people.

[N]icht durch Reden und Majoritätsbeschlüsse werden die großen Fragen der Zeit entschiedenen [...] sondern durch Eisen und Blut.

Ludzie najbardziej kłamią: po polowaniu, w czasie wojny i przed wyborami.

Be assured, we shall not go to Canossa, either bodily or spiritually.

The statesman's task is to hear God's footsteps marching through history, and to try and catch on to His coattails as He marches past.

We live in a wondrous time, in which the strong is weak because of his scruples and the weak grows strong because of his audacity.

Hounds follow those who feed them.

They treat me like a fox, a cunning fellow (Schlaukopf) of the first rank. But the truth is that with a gentleman I am always a gentleman and a half, and when I have to do with a pirate, I try to be a pirate and a half.

Crowned heads, wealth and privilege may well tremble should ever again the Black and Red unite!

A conquering army on the border will not be stopped by eloquence.

Fools learn from experience. I prefer to learn from the experience of others.