Laws are like sausages. You sleep far better the less you know about how they are made.
Otto Von BismarckRead
One day the great European War will come out of some damned foolish thing in the Balkans (1888).
Interpretation
What this quote means
Bismarck suggests that a significant conflict may arise from seemingly minor events, highlighting the unpredictability of war.
This quote by Otto Von Bismarck reflects his belief in the potential for a small incident to escalate into a large-scale conflict, particularly in the volatile political landscape of the Balkans. It underscores the theme of unintended consequences in geopolitics, suggesting that the spark for a major war can come from sources that seem trivial at first glance.
Themes
WarBalkansConflictPoliticsUnintended Consequences
In practice
Example use cases
In a discussion about the causes of World War I, one might quote Bismarck to emphasize how minor incidents can have vast implications.
More from Otto Von Bismarck
All quotes βPreventive 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 β 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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