Gustav Stresemann quotes

Gustav Stresemann was a German politician and statesman who played a key role during the Weimar Republic era. As Chancellor and Foreign Minister, he worked to stabilize Germany’s economy and improve its diplomatic relations after World War I. He is remembered for his efforts toward reconciliation in Europe and receiving the Nobel Peace Prize. Here are 65 of his quotes:

Mankind advances only through struggle. (Gustav Stresemann)
To contrast national solidarity and international cooperation as two opposites seems foolish to me. View quote
Gustav Stresemann
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. View quote
Gustav Stresemann
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. View quote
Gustav Stresemann
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. View quote
Gustav Stresemann
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. View quote
Gustav Stresemann
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. View quote
Gustav Stresemann
The life of the individual is a continuous combat with errors and obstacles, and no victory is more satisfying than the one achieved against opposition. View quote
Gustav Stresemann
Here we encounter two conflicting concepts with which we must come to grips in our time: the idea of national solidarity and the idea of international cooperation. View quote
Gustav Stresemann
Just as a child respects his father even when he perceives his weaknesses and faults, so a German will not despise the old Germany which was once a symbol of greatness to him. View quote
Gustav Stresemann
Historians still often see the end of the war as meaning nothing more for Germany than lost territories, lost participation in colonization, and lost assets for the state and individuals. They frequently overlook the most serious loss that Germany suffered. (Gustav Stresemann)
As a result of the World War, this old Germany collapsed. It collapsed in its constitution, in its social order, in its economic structure. Its thinking and feeling changed. View quote
Gustav Stresemann
A people that has experienced all that the Germans have been through, naturally offers fertile soil for the extremists. View quote
Gustav Stresemann
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. View quote
Gustav Stresemann
No change in the balance of political parties can alter the general determination that no class should be excluded from contributing to and sharing responsibility for the state. View quote
Gustav Stresemann
During the past few years I have led a sometimes hard battle for German foreign policy. View quote
Gustav Stresemann
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. View quote
Gustav Stresemann
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. View quote
Gustav Stresemann
Dante can be understood only within the context of Italian thought, and Faust would be unthinkable if divorced from its German background; but both are part of our common cultural heritage. View quote
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. View quote
Gustav Stresemann
Nothing in the reporting of a nation's history could so mislead the younger generation as to represent great events in such a way that they appear to have happened as a matter of course. (Gustav Stresemann)
I must begin by saying something about the old Germany. That Germany, too, suffered from superficial judgment, because appearances and reality were not always kept apart in people's minds. View quote
Gustav Stresemann
The great men of a nation reach out to all mankind. They are unifying, not divisive; internationally conciliating and still great nationally. View quote
Gustav Stresemann
Just as the child is father to the man, so the impressions of one's youth remain the most vivid in manhood. View quote
Gustav Stresemann
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. View quote
Gustav Stresemann

Gustav Stresemann

Gustav Stresemann - Image
Photo: Wikimedia commons, CC BY-SA 3.0 de
Occupation: German Politician
Born: May 10, 1878
Died: October 3, 1929
Quotes count: 65

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