Bismarck

The statesman who is afraid to take responsibility will never achieve anything great.

I am not a man of principles, but a man of expediency.

The greatest fool is he who thinks he is wise.

No one has a monopoly on wisdom.

The world is governed by very different personages from what is imagined by those who are not behind the scenes.

Politics is the art of swallowing one's words.

The only way to avoid war is to be strong enough to deter it.

I am not a democrat, but I am not an autocrat either.

The future of Germany depends on its unity.

Trust no one, not even yourself.

The only constant in politics is change.

My policy has always been to follow the will of God.

Not by speeches and votes of the majority are the great questions of time decided — that was the great error of 1848 and 1849 — but by iron and blood.

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

Nothing should be left to an invaded people except their eyes for weeping.

The division of the United States into federations of equal force was decided long before the Civil War by the high financial powers of Europe. These bankers were afraid that the United States, if they remained in one block and as one nation, would attain economic and financial independence, which would upset their financial domination over the world. The voice of the Rothschilds prevailed... Therefore they sent their emissaries into the field to exploit the question of slavery and to open an abyss between the two sections of the Union.

Do not expect that once taking advantage of Russia's weakness, you will receive dividends forever. Russian has always come for their money. And when they come - do not rely on an agreement signed by you, you are supposed to justify. They are not worth the paper it is written. Therefore, with the Russian is to play fair, or do not play. Never fight with Russian. On your every stratagem they answer unpredictable stupidity.

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.

I shall soon be compelled to undertake the conduct of the Prussian Government. My first care will be to reorganise the army, with or without the help of the Landtag. ... As soon as the army shall have been brought into such a condition as to inspire respect, I shall seize the first best pretext to declare war against Austria, dissolve the German Diet, subdue the minor States, and give national unity to Germany under Prussian leadership. I have come here to say this to the Queen's Ministers.

I grant that I am full of prejudices; I sucked them in with my mother's milk, and I cannot possibly argue them away.