“If there is ever another war in Europe, it will come out of some damned silly thing in the Balkans.”

“One day the great European War will come out of some damned foolish thing in the Balkans (1888).”

“The Balkans aren't worth the life of a single Pomeranian grenadier.”

“Preventive war is like committing suicide out of fear of death.”

“Be polite; write diplomatically; even in a declaration of war one observes the rules of politeness.”

“People never lie so much as before an election, during a war, or after a hunt.”

“People never lie so much as after a hunt, during a war, or before an election.”