Laws are like sausages. You sleep far better the less you know about how they are made.
Otto Von BismarckRead
Never believe anything in politics until it has been officially denied.
Interpretation
What this quote means
In politics, skepticism is crucial; official denials often indicate truth.
This quote suggests that in the realm of politics, one should approach information with a degree of skepticism, particularly when it comes to denials made by those in power. Bismarck implies that official statements are often crafted to mislead, and understanding the truth requires a critical eye, particularly regarding the actions and intentions of political figures.
Themes
PoliticsSkepticismTruthDenialPower
In practice
Example use cases
In a discussion about political scandals.
More from Otto Von Bismarck
All quotes βPreventive 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 β 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
Governments can err, Presidents do make mistakes, but the immortal Dante tells us that divine justice weighs the sins of the cold-blooded and the sins of the warm-hearted in different scales. Better the occasional faults of a Government that lives in a spirit of charity than the constant omission of a Government frozen in the ice of its own indifference.
Franklin D. RooseveltRead
The one state/two state debate is irrelevant as Israel and the US consolidate Greater Israel.
Noam ChomskyRead
Democracy only has substance if there's the rule of law. That is, if people believe that the votes are going to be counted, and they are counted. If they believe that there's a judiciary out there that will make sense of things if there's some challenge. If there isn't rule of law, people will be afraid to vote the way they want to vote.
Timothy D. SnyderRead
I'm also very much aware that it is you who brought democracy to Chile, you set up a constitution suitable for democracy, you put it into effect, elections were held, and then, in accordance with the result, you stepped down.
Margaret ThatcherRead
Great powers can't get tired, because the international order is not self-governing.
Condoleezza RiceRead
I ask the rights to pursue happiness by having a voice in that government to which I am accountable.
Victoria WoodhullRead