Otto von Bismarck 1818-1898, foreign minister of Prussia and the German Empire (after 1871): 1862-1890

IRON AND BLOOD Speech to the Prussian Legislature in 1862 shortly after becoming foreign minister.

... It is true that we can hardly escape complications in Germany, although we do not seek them. Germany does not look to Prussia's liberalism, but to her power. The south German States-Bavaria, Wiirttemberg, and Baden-would like to indulge in liberalism, and because of that no one will assign Prussia's role to them! Prussia must collect her forces and hold them in reserve for an opportune moment, which has already come and gone several times. Since the Treaty of Vienna, our frontiers have not been favorably de­signed for a healthy body politic. Not by speeches and majorities will the great questions of the day be decided-that was the mistake of 1848 and 1849--but by iron and blood.

Other quotations:

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

“The less people know about how sausages and laws are made, the better they'll sleep at night”

"Never believe anything in politics until it has been officially denied."