Nobody in Europe will be abandoned. Nobody in Europe will be excluded. Europe only succeeds if we work together.
Angela MerkelRead
We've always had this experience that things take long, but I'm 100% convinced that our principles will in the end prevail. No one knew how the Cold War would end at the time, but it did end. This is within our living experience... I'm surprised at how fainthearted we sometimes are and how quickly we lose courage.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote reflects on the perseverance of principles over time and the tendency of people to lose courage during challenging periods.
Angela Merkel’s quote emphasizes the importance of holding onto our principles even when faced with long and unpredictable challenges. She draws from historical context, specifically the end of the Cold War, to illustrate that even difficult situations eventually resolve, suggesting that we should not lose heart or courage despite temporary setbacks and uncertainties.
Themes
CouragePrinciplesPerseveranceHistoryEndurance
In practice
Example use cases
In a speech addressing young leaders during a conference on democracy, one could use this quote to inspire them to maintain their principles in the face of adversity.
More from Angela Merkel
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We need... to say to people that this is a temporary residential status, and we expect that, once there is peace in Syria again, once IS has been defeated in Iraq, that you go back to your home country with the knowledge that you have gained.
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During the course of 1989, more and more East Germans lost their fears of the state's repression and chicanery and went out on the streets. There was no turning back then. It is thanks to their courage the Wall was opened.
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