My subject is my life, and my life is my subject.

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).

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

Not even the King himself has the right to subordinate the interests of his country to his own feelings of love or hatred towards strangers; he is, however, responsible towards God and not to me if he does so, and therefore on this point I am silent.

I consider even a victorious war as an evil, from which statesmanship must endeavor to spare nations.

A really great man is known by three signs: generosity in the design, humanity in the execution, moderation in success.

Laws are like sausages. You sleep far better the less you know about how they are made.