Laws are like sausages. You sleep far better the less you know about how they are made.
Otto Von BismarckRead
God has a special providence for fools, drunks, and the United States of America.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote suggests that there is a protective force or luck that watches over those who may be reckless or naïve, including nations.
Otto Von Bismarck's quote reflects a cynical perspective on governance and human nature, implying that there is an unexpected favor or safeguarding that seems to be granted to those who are foolish, intoxicated, or even to an entire nation like the United States. It highlights the idea that sometimes, despite poor choices or lack of wisdom, fortune or providence can intervene in surprising ways, leading to unexpected outcomes.
Themes
ProvidenceFoolsLuckAmericaBismarck
In practice
Example use cases
During a discussion about government decisions that seem illogical, this quote can be used to highlight the unpredictability of political fortune.
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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