Revolutions in Prussia are started by kings, and since it is a revolution, it is better to start it ourselves than to suffer of it

Only a fool learns from his own mistakes. The wise man learns from the mistakes of others.

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

What we learn from History is that no one learns from History

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.

God has a special providence for fools, drunks, and the United States of America.

People never lie so much as after a hunt, during a war or before an election.

The secret of politics? Make a good treaty with Russia.

The great questions of the day will not be settled by means of speeches and majority decisions but by iron and blood.

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.

Never fight with Russian. On your every stratagem they answer unpredictable stupidity.

The goal of the church is to bring the kingdom answers to the people

That’s writing for you: when you make space for passion, it doesn’t turn up.

The beauty of the soul is wrapped in modest fashion.

I am so tired. I have grown old from being serious. I have grown ill from being serious. I want to laugh at myself. I want to forget myself. I am so tired.

If I couldn't laugh, I'd rather die.

When you are enlightened and have united your mind with the deepest and most ancient part of the mind of the universe, you are not affected by suffering the way other people are.

I bend, but I do not break.

Generally speaking, I think it is fair to say that I am a friend to the creatures of the Earth when I am not busy eating them or wearing them.

I don't work well outside the lines; my report card once read, "doesn't play well with others."

I don't think you ever understand your life - not till it's finished and probably not then either. The more I live the less I seem to understand.