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

Politics is the art of the possible, the attainable — the art of the next best

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

Hounds follow those who feed them.

Life has taught me to forgive much, but to seek forgiveness still more.

Faust complained about having two souls in his breast, but I harbor a whole crowd of them and they quarrel. It is like being in a republic.

The secret of politics? Make a good treaty with Russia.