Laws are like sausages. You sleep far better the less you know about how they are made.
Otto Von BismarckRead
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.
Interpretation
What this quote means
A leader must prioritize the interests of their country over personal emotions towards others.
This quote emphasizes the duty of leaders, particularly those in power, to act in the best interest of their nation rather than allowing personal feelings to influence their decisions. Bismarck points out that a leader's primary responsibility is to the greater good and to a higher moral authority rather than to the opinions or judgments of individuals.
Themes
LeadershipResponsibilityNationDutyPower
In practice
Example use cases
During a keynote speech about political ethics, I referenced Bismarck's quote to highlight the importance of putting national interests first.
More from Otto Von Bismarck
All quotes →Preventive war is like committing suicide out of fear of death.
Otto Von BismarckRead
With a gentleman I am always a gentleman and a half, and with a fraud I try to be a fraud and a half.
Otto Von BismarckRead
Politics is the art of the possible, the attainable — the art of the next best
Otto Von BismarckRead
It is the destiny of the weak to be devoured by the strong.
Otto Von BismarckRead
A generation that has taken a beating is always followed by a generation that deals one.
Otto Von BismarckRead
Similar quotes
The great illusion of leadership is to think that man can be led out of the desert by someone who has never been there.
Henri NouwenRead
It is a doctrine of war not to assume the enemy will not come, but rather to rely on one's readiness to meet him; not to presume that he will not attack, but rather to make one's self invincible.
Sun TzuRead
What should be the aim of management? What is their job? Quality is the responsibility of the top people. Its origin is in the boardroom. They are the ones who decide.
W. Edwards DemingRead
Whether individuals or organisations, we follow those who lead not because we have to, but because we want to. We follow those who lead not for them, but for ourselves.
Simon SinekRead
If someone uses the uniform, whatever uniform, for partisan politics, I am disappointed because I think it does erode that bond of trust we have with the American people.
Martin DempseyRead
There is a kind of woman who is economically powerful, professionally powerful, who threatens a white male grip on power that has a long historic precedent in the country. Independent women living outside of marriage threaten all kinds of things about the way power is supposed to work.
Rebecca TraisterRead