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.
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With a gentleman I am always a gentleman and a half, and with a fraud I try to be a fraud and a half.
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Politics is the art of the possible, the attainable — the art of the next best
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It is the destiny of the weak to be devoured by the strong.
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A generation that has taken a beating is always followed by a generation that deals one.
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