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.

Hounds follow those who feed them.

Be polite; write diplomatically; even in a declaration of war one observes the rules of politeness.

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).

A generation that has taken a beating is always followed by a generation that deals one.

I have only one ambition left: I should like to have a good epitaph.

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.