Preventive war is like committing suicide out of fear of death. Otto von Bismarck More Quotes by Otto von Bismarck More Quotes From Otto von Bismarck Never fight with Russian. On your every stratagem they answer unpredictable stupidity. Otto von Bismarck stupidityfightinganswers 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. Otto von Bismarck russiaagreementplay Only a fool learns from his own mistakes. The wise man learns from the mistakes of others. Otto von Bismarck wisdomwisemistake One day the great European War will come out of some damned foolish thing in the Balkans (1888). Otto von Bismarck one-dayfoolishwar 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. Otto von Bismarck blockeuropewar What we learn from History is that no one learns from History Otto von Bismarck The Americans are a very lucky people. They're bordered to the north and south by weak neighbors, and to the east and west by fish. Otto von Bismarck eastluckypeople God has a special providence for fools, drunks, and the United States of America. Otto von Bismarck united-statesspecialamerica People never lie so much as after a hunt, during a war or before an election. Otto von Bismarck clevermorningwar A really great man is known by three signs: generosity in the design, humanity in the execution, moderation in success. Otto von Bismarck compassionsuccessmen The secret of politics? Make a good treaty with Russia. Otto von Bismarck russiapoliticalmilitary 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. Otto von Bismarck audacitymoralstrong The great questions of the day will not be settled by means of speeches and majority decisions but by iron and blood. Otto von Bismarck timemeanblood A generation that has taken a beating is always followed by a generation that deals one. Otto von Bismarck dealsgenerationstaken The death of Lincoln was a disaster for Christendom. There was no man in the United States great enough to wear his boots and the bankers went anew to grab the riches. I fear that foreign bankers with their craftiness and tortuous tricks will entirely control the exuberant riches of America and use it to systematically corrupt civilization. Otto von Bismarck moneymencivilization Never believe anything in politics until it has been officially denied. Otto von Bismarck politicalmilitarybelieve When you want to fool the world, tell the truth. Otto von Bismarck militarytruthwriting The position of Prussia in Germany will not be determined by its liberalism but by its power ... Prussia must concentrate its strength and hold it for the favorable moment, which has already come and gone several times. Since the treaties of Vienna, our frontiers have been ill-designed for a healthy body politic. Not through speeches and majority decisions will the great questions of the day be decided - that was the great mistake of 1848 and 1849 - but by iron and blood (Eisen und Blut). Otto von Bismarck ironmistakeblood People who love sausage and people who believe in justice should never watch either of them being made Otto von Bismarck justicebelievepeople A bad plan that is well executed will yield much better results than a good plan that is poorly executed. Otto von Bismarck yieldplansresults