Laws are like sausages. You sleep far better the less you know about how they are made.
Otto Von BismarckRead
People never lie so much as after a hunt, during a war or before an election.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote suggests that people are most dishonest during times of high stress or competition, such as hunting, war, or elections.
Otto Von Bismarck's quote reflects the nature of human behavior during critical and competitive moments. It implies that the intense pressure and stakes involved in situations like hunting for survival, the chaos of war, or the contentious nature of elections often lead individuals to stretch the truth or outright deceive. This dishonesty can be seen as a survival mechanism or a strategic tactic to achieve goals, emphasizing the darker side of human nature when faced with high-tension environments.
Themes
LieTruthWarElectionDishonestyCompetition
In practice
Example use cases
This quote could be used to discuss the ethics of communication in political debates.
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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