Nobody in Europe will be abandoned. Nobody in Europe will be excluded. Europe only succeeds if we work together.
Angela MerkelRead
We've always had this experience that things take long, but I'm 100% convinced that our principles will in the end prevail. No one knew how the Cold War would end at the time, but it did end. This is within our living experience... I'm surprised at how fainthearted we sometimes are and how quickly we lose courage.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote reflects on the perseverance of principles over time and the tendency of people to lose courage during challenging periods.
Angela Merkel’s quote emphasizes the importance of holding onto our principles even when faced with long and unpredictable challenges. She draws from historical context, specifically the end of the Cold War, to illustrate that even difficult situations eventually resolve, suggesting that we should not lose heart or courage despite temporary setbacks and uncertainties.
Themes
CouragePrinciplesPerseveranceHistoryEndurance
In practice
Example use cases
In a speech addressing young leaders during a conference on democracy, one could use this quote to inspire them to maintain their principles in the face of adversity.
More from Angela Merkel
All quotes →Let us answer the terrorists by living our values with courage.
Angela MerkelRead
It certainly is dangerous that there are only a few clubs left in Europe that can afford to pay millions. At the end of the day however, the spectators decide the rates of pay - by watching the games and consuming the goods and services advertised on sports TV programmes.
Angela MerkelRead
In many regions, war and terror prevail. States disintegrate. For many years, we have read about this. We have heard about it. We have seen it on TV. But we had not yet sufficiently understood that what happens in Aleppo and Mosul can affect Essen or Stuttgart. We have to face that now.
Angela MerkelRead
We need... to say to people that this is a temporary residential status, and we expect that, once there is peace in Syria again, once IS has been defeated in Iraq, that you go back to your home country with the knowledge that you have gained.
Angela MerkelRead
During the course of 1989, more and more East Germans lost their fears of the state's repression and chicanery and went out on the streets. There was no turning back then. It is thanks to their courage the Wall was opened.
Angela MerkelRead
Similar quotes
I was raised to believe that soldiers were strong and wise and brave and faithful; they didn't lie, cheat, steal or abandon their comrades.
Stanley A. McchrystalRead
I ran away from St. Louis, and then I ran away from the United States, because of that terror of discrimination.
Josephine BakerRead
Being a rapper as a woman is not a good thing in Afghanistan. I kind of put my life in danger whenever I go somewhere to talk about women's rights or make music, rap, or have interviews.
Sonita AlizadehRead
When an opponent comes forward, move in and greet him; if he wants to pull back, send him on his way.
Morihei UeshibaRead
Antiabortion rules disproportionately harm women of color and low-income women of every ethnicity, affecting their economic capacity and threatening their very lives.
Stacey AbramsRead
I'm interested in people who have to overcome obstacles, people who are not sheltered by the umbrella of the establishment, marginals.
Isabel AllendeRead