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 bad plan that is well executed will yield much better results than a good plan that is poorly executed.

War should only be used for a policy worth its sacrifices.

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

Love is blind; friendship tries not to notice.

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

Politics is no exact science.