Our German forefathers had a very kind religion. They believed that, after death, they would meet again all the good dogs that had been their companions in life. I wish I could believe that too.

The Catholic priest, from the moment he becomes a priest, is a sworn officer of the pope.

Politics ruins the character.

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

A statesman... must wait until he hears the steps of God sounding through events, then leap up and grasp the hem of His garment.

When a man says he approves of something in principle, it means he hasn't the slightest intention of carrying it out in practice.

Even the most favorable outcome of the war will never lead to the decomposition of the main forces of Russia, which is based on millions of Russian ... The latter, even if they break up international treaties, just as quickly re-connect with each other, like pieces of a particle of mercury.