“the main thing is to make history not to write it”

“The statesman's task is to hear God's footsteps marching through history, and to try and catch on to His coattails as He marches past. ”

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

“I have a burden on my soul. During my long life, I did not make anyone happy, neither my friends, nor my family, nor even myself. I have done many evil things...I was the cause of the beginning of three big wars. About 800,000 people were killed because of me on the battlefields., and their mothers, brothers, and widows cried for them. And now this stands between me and God.”

“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).”

“man cannot control the current of events. he can only float with them and steer”