July, of course, celebrates American Independence Day. Demonstrations of patriotism will abound. If you wish to see old July 4th related posts on this blog, please choose the "Fourth of July", "patriotism", or "politics" links on the left sidebar (on the desktop version).
This July, the blog is looking at quotes from a German patriot, Chancellor Otto von Bismark of the old German Empire. I never used to seek out Bismark quotes because I thought his militarism (which united the Germans under the Prussians) was a big factor in the long-term problems Germany created. However, it turns out there was far more to Bismark than militarism. Here are some interesting quotes from him:
- That which is imposing here on earth has always something
of the quality of the fallen angel who is beautiful but without peace, great in
his conceptions and exertions but without success, proud and lonely.
- Only a fool learns from his own mistakes. The wise man
learns from the mistakes of others.
- Fools learn from experience. I prefer to learn from the
experience of others.
- What we learn from History is that no one learns from
History.
- A really great man is known by three signs-generosity in
the design, humanity in the execution, moderation in success.
- Man cannot control the current of events. he can only
float with them and steer.
- The life of a man is like a game of chess, which he plays
according to his art.
- Life is like being at the dentist. You always think that
the worst is still to come, and yet it is over already.
- A bad plan that is well executed will yield much better
results than a good plan that is poorly executed.
- Love is blind; friendship tries not to notice.
- Hounds follow those who feed them.
- I have never lived on principles. When I have had to act,
I never first asked myself on what principles I was going to act, but I went at
it and did what I thought fit. I have often reproached myself for my want of
principle.
- When you want to fool the world, tell the truth.
- People never lie so much as before an election, during a
war, or after a hunt.
- Preventive war is like committing suicide out of fear of
death.
- Anyone who has ever looked into the glazed eyes of a
soldier dying on the battlefield will think hard before starting a war.
- A generation that has taken a beating is always followed
by a generation that deals one.
- A little caution outflanks a large cavalry.
- Woe to the leader whose arguments at the end of a war are
not as plausible as they were at the beginning.
- Show me an objective worthy of war and I will go along
with you.
- You can do everything with bayonets, but you are not able
to sit on them.
--Otto von Bismark
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