The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1898-08-29
BISMARCK'S PHILOSOPHY.
Significant Extracts From the Writ
ings of the Great Man

For me the words BY Gods grace"
which Christian princes add TO their
names, are no empty sound. 1 see in
them the avowaI the princes will WELD
the scepter given them by God according
to the will Of God / believe that the aim
of the state is the realization of Chris
tian doctrines.
A decision as to principles is never ar
rived at by parliamentary debate nor by
majorties.
Appeals to what they do in England are
our misfortune. Give us everything En-
glish that We have not got-English fear
of God, English veneration for the law,
the entire English constitution. and also
the whole English system of land own
ing; English riches, English common
sense-especially the English house of
cOmmons-in a word. everything which
We have not: and then 1 will also say.
You can rule US as the English are
ruled"
A certain ar punt of positive Christian
ity is necessa.y for the ordinary man, if
ne Is not to become dangerous 10 human
society. The belief in the revealed word
OF God is firner rooted IN the people than
the belief in the sanctifying power of any
particular article of the constitution
There Is nothing on earth but hypoc-
risy and Juggling.
In Gods almighty hand we are without
counsel and helpless if He will not help
US We can only bow ourselves in hu-
miffty TO his decree
We Germans are too well educated; TOO
critical. 10 tolerate a constitution
The entire constitutional life is always
a line of compromises.
Political questions are questions of pow
er, not of right
L believe in human reckoning.
When the foundations of the state are
attacked from the barricades and from
the republicans l consider it my duty to
stand in the breach. Christianity and NV
faith demand this of me-
Bravery in special eases is not to be re-
warded-it is the common possession of
German soldiers.
The tax which the empire most needs is
usually that which is said to press with
greatest severity on the poor man.
We are not going to Canossa. neither
physically nor spiritually
So long as the great monarchfes of Eu-
rope stick together no republic can he
dangerous 10 them.
My duties to the state shall not be sus
pended because of my respect for the
dogmas of others
Our German national character wishes
always TO have the best, and loses there
by the good.
The minister who imposes the taxes
should not be at the same time minister
of finance.
The ability TO read is mora widely
spread in Germany than in Francs =,
England; the ability to make a decision
or to reason from what has been read
is more widely distributed there than
here
Abstract doctrines of science leave me
quite cold; l act according to the experi-
ence I have had.
1 have never left a glove Lying which
has been thrown down for me.
All unrest in the empire all difficulties
in the way of our fiourishing. come from
the party of progress.
For me there is only one compass one
solitary Polar Star by which 1 steer
salus publica.
I shall not allow myself to be dismayed
by a majority in the Reichstag; combined
Europe has not overawed me.
The freedom of the Church means the
rule of the Church.
Peace between King and priest will
always remain squaring of the circle
You come very near it often. but never
reach It.
The Gordian knot which tied the ma
tional rights of Germans. the right to
i've ana breathe as great nation, could
only have been loosed by the sword
The entire Eastern question is not
question of war for us. The friendship
of Russia is far more important to us
than that of Bulgaria.
From early life | have been a hunts
man and a fisherman. and the waiting
for the right moment is the rule which
have introduced into politics.
Politics are not logic, are not an exact
science but the ability to select the most
reasonable. the least dangerous course
in every changing momene of the situa-
ton.
During thirty years 1 have become so
accustomed to the press that the prin-
ter's ink is now unable to rob me Of my
good temper by day or of my rest at
night.