Otto von Bismarck Quotes
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Your map of Africa is really quite nice. But my map of Africa lies in Europe. Here is Russia, and here... is France, and we're in the middle - that's my map of Africa.
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A journalist is a person who has mistaken their calling.
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Faust klagt über die zwei Seelen in seiner Brust; ich beherberge aber eine ganze Menge, die sich zanken. Es geht da zu wie in einer Republik... Das meiste, was sie sagen, teile ich mit. Es sind da aber auch ganze Provinzen, in die ich nie einen andern Menschen werde hineinsehen lassen.
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Wer den Daumen auf dem Beutel hat, der hat die Macht.
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The main thing is to make history, not to write it.
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Never believe anything in politics until it has been officially denied.
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With a gentleman I am always a gentleman and a half, and with a fraud I try to be a fraud and a half.
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When a man says he approves of something in principle, it means he hasn't the slightest intention of carrying it out in practice.
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Nicht durch Reden und Majoritätsbeschlüsse werden die großen Fragen der Zeit entschieden - daß ist der große Fehler von 1848 und 1849 gewesen - sondern durch Eisen und Blut.
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Whoever speaks of Europe is wrong: it is a geographical expression.
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Be polite; write diplomatically; even in a declaration of war one observes the rules of politeness.
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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.
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When you want to fool the world, tell the truth.
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Anyone who has ever looked into the glazed eyes of a soldier dying on the battlefield will think hard before starting a war.
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An appeal to fear never finds an echo in German hearts.
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Politics is not an exact science.
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Laws are like sausages, it is better not to see them being made.
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No civilization other than that which is Christian, is worth seeking or possessing.
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The secret of politics? Make a good treaty with Russia.
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A statesman... must wait until he hears the steps of God sounding through events, then leap up and grasp the hem of His garment.
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Politics is the art of the next best.
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The great questions of the day will not be settled by means of speeches and majority decisions but by iron and blood.
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People never lie so much as after a hunt, during a war or before an election.
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Politics is the art of the possible.