I am of opinion that in the position in which I am placed it is of far greater service to me to confer benefits on mankind than to inspire them with … - Wilhelm II

I see that we must strike a balance. We have nearly reached the limit of our powers of resistance. The war must be ended.

I made up my mind after reading the lessons of history never to dream of a vast world-empire. For what has become of all those so-called world-empires? Alexander, Napoleon and all such great captains bathed themselves in blood, and yet left behind them subjugated peoples, who, after those great men had died, rose in revolt and ruined the Empires they had created.

[The coming war is] the last battle between Teutons (Germans) and Slavs [which would] find the Anglo-Saxons on the side of the Slavs and the Gauls...[<nowiki/>England] wanted to forbid other Powers to defend their interests...with the sword. … England will undoubtedly stand behind France and Russia against Germany out of hatred and envy. The imminent struggle for existence which the Germanic peoples of Europe (Austria, Germany) will have to fight out against the Slavs (Russians) and their Latin (Gallic) supporters finds the Anglo-Saxons on the side of the Slavs. Reason: petty envy, fear of our growing big.