Otto von Bismarck

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.

Unknown, 19th century — Statement on diplomatic and personal conduct

Strange & Unusual Confirmed

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

1888 — A prescient warning about future conflicts

Strange & Unusual Confirmed

The social insecurity of the worker is the real cause of their being a peril to the state.

Unknown, 19th century — Observation on social policy and state stability

Strange & Unusual Unverifiable

The social insecurity of the worker is the real cause of their being a peril to the state.

Unknown, 19th century — Observation on social policy and state stability

Strange & Unusual Confirmed

Jena came twenty years after the death of Frederick the Great; the crash will come twenty years after my departure if things go on like this.

Unknown, late 19th century — A prophetic warning about Germany's future after his departure from power

Strange & Unusual Unverifiable

Jena came twenty years after the death of Frederick the Great; the crash will come twenty years after my departure if things go on like this.

Unknown, late 19th century — A prophetic warning about Germany's future after his departure from power

Strange & Unusual Confirmed

During my long life, I did not make anyone happy, neither my friends, nor my family, nor even myself. I have done many evil things... I was the cause of the beginning of three big wars. About 800,000 people were killed because of me on the battlefields, and their mothers, brothers, and widows cried for them. And now this stands between me and God.

Unknown, late 19th century — A raw and unexpected personal confession late in life

Strange & Unusual Unverifiable

During my long life, I did not make anyone happy, neither my friends, nor my family, nor even myself. I have done many evil things... I was the cause of the beginning of three big wars. About 800,000 people were killed because of me on the battlefields, and their mothers, brothers, and widows cried for them. And now this stands between me and God.

Unknown, late 19th century — A raw and unexpected personal confession late in life

Strange & Unusual Disputed

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

Unknown, 19th century — Paradoxical observation on deception

Strange & Unusual Confirmed

Faust complained about having two souls in his breast, but I harbor a whole crowd of them and they quarrel. It is like being in a republic.

Unknown, 19th century — Eccentric self-description, comparing himself to a republic

Strange & Unusual Unverifiable

Faust complained about having two souls in his breast, but I harbor a whole crowd of them and they quarrel. It is like being in a republic.

Unknown, 19th century — Eccentric self-description, comparing himself to a republic

Strange & Unusual Confirmed

You can do everything with bayonets, but you are not able to sit on them.

Unknown, 19th century — Practical observation on the limits of military force

Strange & Unusual Unverifiable

You can do everything with bayonets, but you are not able to sit on them.

Unknown, 19th century — Practical observation on the limits of military force

Strange & Unusual Confirmed

You can't destroy the polish national-consciousness or Poles on the battlefield, but if you give them power, they will destroy themselves.

Unknown, 19th century — Controversial and unfiltered remark about Polish nationalism

Strange & Unusual Unverifiable

You can't destroy the polish national-consciousness or Poles on the battlefield, but if you give them power, they will destroy themselves.

Unknown, 19th century — Controversial and unfiltered remark about Polish nationalism

Strange & Unusual Disputed

There are a lot of people who have only one thought all their lives, and they never come into conflict with it. I am not one of them; I learn from life, I learn as long as I live, I learn even today. It is possible that in a year or a few, if I still live to see them, I shall regard what I hold true today as a viewpoint that has been overcome, and I shall wonder: How could I have been of this opinion before?

Unknown, 19th century — Introspective reflection on personal growth and changing views

Strange & Unusual Unverifiable

There are a lot of people who have only one thought all their lives, and they never come into conflict with it. I am not one of them; I learn from life, I learn as long as I live, I learn even today. It is possible that in a year or a few, if I still live to see them, I shall regard what I hold true today as a viewpoint that has been overcome, and I shall wonder: How could I have been of this opinion before?

Unknown, 19th century — Introspective reflection on personal growth and changing views

Strange & Unusual Confirmed

Politics is not a science to be learned, it is an art, and he who cannot do it had better stay away from it.

Unknown, 19th century — Observation on the nature of politics

Strange & Unusual Unverifiable

Politics is not a science to be learned, it is an art, and he who cannot do it had better stay away from it.

Unknown, 19th century — Observation on the nature of politics

Strange & Unusual Confirmed

It is easier to criticize than to govern.

Unknown, 19th century — Observation on the difficulties of governance

Strange & Unusual Unverifiable

Sayings by Otto von Bismarck