This policy cannot succeed through speeches, and shooting-matches, and songs; it can only be carried out through blood and iron.

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.

There is a Providence that protects idiots, drunkards, children and the United States of America.

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

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

An appeal to fear never finds an echo in German hearts.

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