Quotes from Otto von Bismarck

Politics is the art of the possible, the attainable — the art of the next best

The Balkans arent worth the life of a single Pomeranian grenadier.

Life has taught me to forgive much, but to seek forgiveness still more.

My subject is my life, and my life is my subject.

Anyone who has ever looked into the glazed eyes of a soldier dying on the battlefield will think hard before starting a war.

A really great man is known by three signs: generosity in the design, humanity in the execution, moderation in success.

When you say you agree to a thing in principle you mean that you have not the slightest intention of carrying it out in practice.

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

I have seen three emperors in their nakedness, and the sight was not inspiring.

An appeal to fear never finds an echo in German hearts.

When you want to fool the world, tell the truth.

People who love sausage and people who believe in justice should never watch either of them being made

Love is blind; friendship tries not to notice.

No civilization other than that which is Christian, is worth seeking or possessing.

I have found that nothing so deceives your adversaries as telling them the truth.

Whoever speaks of Europe is wrong: it is a geographical expression.

All treaties between great states cease to be binding when they come in conflict with the struggle for existence.

Let us put Germany, so to speak, in the saddle! you will see that she can ride.

History is simply a piece of paper covered with print; the main thing is still to make history, not to write it.

When you say that you agree to a thing in principle, you mean that you have not the slightest intention of carrying it out.

With a gentleman I am always a gentleman and a half, and with a fraud I try to be a fraud and a half.

Politics is like sausages, you don't want to watch either being made.

One day the great European War will come out of some damned foolish thing in the Balkans (1888).

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