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
You have to adjust to what your team needs and what you're able to do.
Tim DuncanRead
The government, whether state or central, is elected. That means we have a responsibility to elect the right kind of leaders.
Abdul KalamRead
Begin with praise and honest appreciation.
Dale CarnegieRead
We need leaders, we ourselves need to lead from a place that has the audacity to believe that we ourselves can extend the fundamental assumption that all men are created equal to every, man woman and child on this planet. And we need the humility to recognize that we cannot do it alone.
Jacqueline NovogratzRead
Brevity is the soul of command. Too much talking suggests desperation on the part of the leader. Speak shortly, decisively and to the point–and couch your desires in such natural logic that no one can raise objections. Then move on.
Cyrus The GreatRead
The best way to revive a church is to build a fire in the pulpit.
Dwight L. MoodyRead