Gustav Stresemann

“As a confirmed individualist I certainly do not wish to underrate the influence of the individual, for the masses do not lead the individual; rather, in the individual is vested the capacity to lead the masses.”

“Just as the British subject loves England despite her faults, so we must insist that all Germans who were part of the old Germany and helped shape her, recognize the greatness and worthiness of present-day Germany.”

“For the victor peace means the preservation of the position of power which he has secured. For the vanquished it means resigning himself to the position left to him.”

“A people that has experienced all that the Germans have been through, naturally offers fertile soil for the extremists.”

“To contrast national solidarity and international cooperation as two opposites seems foolish to me.”

“This old Germany was partly defeated in its conflict with the progressive ideas of socialism, for it had given the people nothing that could serve as a successful alternative to socialism.”

“A Shakespeare could have arisen only on English soil. In the same way, your great dramatists and poets express the nature and essence of the Norwegian people, but they also express that which is universally valid for all mankind.”

“The concept of active cooperation has taken the place of opposition to the new form of government and of dreamy resignation entranced with the beauty of times past.”

“Mankind advances only through struggle.”

“During the past few years I have led a sometimes hard battle for German foreign policy.”

“To walk behind others on a road you are traveling together, to give precedence to others without envy - this is painful for an individual and painful for a nation.”

“In every man the memory of the struggles and the heroes of the past is alive. But these memories are not incompatible with the desire for peace in the future.”

“Nothing is more misleading to the youth of a nation than to state the outcome immediately after the beginning as if nothing could have taken place in between.”

“The courtesy which most becomes a victor was denied to Germany for a long time.”

“The history of nations shows that words are not always immediately followed by action.”

“The great men of a nation reach out to all mankind. They are unifying, not divisive; internationally conciliating and still great nationally.”

“History uses a unit of measure for time that is different from that of the lifespan of the individual, whereas man is only too ready to measure the evolution of history by his own yardstick.”

“Voices were heard from the United States of America which made it clear that America wanted a peaceful and united Europe as a basis for mutual cooperation.”

“If one seeks to analyze experiences and reactions to the first postwar years, I hope one may say without being accused of bias that it is easier for the victor than for the vanquished to advocate peace.”

“As a consequence of the terms of the Treaty of Versailles, the officer corps of the old army became part of this class, as did that part of the younger generation who, in the old Germany, would have become officers or civil servants.”