The best Quotes by Helmut Kohl

German Chancellors

The best Quotes by Helmut Kohl

Helmut Josef Michael Kohl (3 April 1930 – 16 June 2017) was a German politician who served as Chancellor of Germany from 1982 to 1998 and Leader of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) from 1973 to 1998. Kohl's 16-year tenure is the longest of any German chancellor since Otto von Bismarck, and oversaw the end of the Cold War, the German reunification and the creation of the European Union (EU).

My aim remains, if history approves, to unite our country.

In a leading position, character is often more important than knowledge or intelligence.

In politics, you need a feeling for what's possible and what's reasonable.

Europe must not be a stronghold where we isolate ourselfes from others. It has to be open.

This moment is one of the happiest in my life.

October 2nd 1990

1990 German Unity

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Berlin will live and the Wall will fall!

Willy Brandt - 10. November 1989

2

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Democracy isn't just there. We have to work for it together - every day.

Angela Merkel - October 2021, during the 31st Day of German Unity

1

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People of the world - look at Berlin, where a wall came down, a continent came together, and history proved that there is no challenge too great for a world that stands as one.

Barack Obama

1

History 2008 German Unity Berlin

In the face of Russias war against Ukraine, it can't be stressed enough how fortunate we were to see the events of 1989/90 happen in the way they did.

Angela Merkel - September 2022

1990 German Unity 1989

In 1989, the Berlin Wall and all the walls of Soviet domination, they fell. They fell! And the people prevailed.

Joe Biden - March 2022, Speech in Warsaw

German Unity 1989

When the train of German Unity starts rolling, we better make sure no one's run over.

Willy Brandt - 25.02.1990

After 40 years one shouldn't lie to the people about the chances of a German reunion. There are none.

Gerhard Schröder - June 12th 1989

Mistakes German Unity

War is young men dying and old men talking. You know this. Ignore the politics.

Odysseus in Troy

3

Equations are more important to me, because politics is for the present, but an equation is something for eternity.

Albert Einstein

3

Mathematics Politics

Finance is a gun. Politics is knowing when to pull the trigger.

Don Lucchesi in The Godfather - Teil 3

3

In remembering the appalling suffering of war on both sides, we recognise how precious is the peace we have built in Europe since 1945.

Queen Elizabeth II

1

Europe Peace World War II

Our final goal must be to create the United States of Europe.

Konrad Adenauer

1

Europe European Union

We all know that Ukrainians are ready to die for the European perspective. We want them to live with us for the European dream.

Ursula von der Leyen - Juni 2022

Europe Ukraine 2022 European Union

Now, what belongs together, will grow together.

Willy Brandt

1990 German Unity

This is the dirty work that Israel is doing – for all of us. Otherwise, we might have continued to endure the terror of this regime for months or years – and possibly even with nuclear weapons.

Friedrich Merz - Juni 2025

Iran Israel 2025

A change of government is always a test of how mature a country's democracy is — whether the transition happens smoothly, without grandstanding or ambushes from either side. In every respect, I can say: Germany has once again passed this test.

Friedrich Merz - May 2025

Data protection must not become protection for offenders.

Friedrich Merz - March 2024

Our world has become more restless and rough; it is changing at a breathtaking pace. We also cope with headwinds. This does not make the challenges of our time any smaller.

Olaf Scholz - December 2023

Terror will not win, hatred will not prevail. Israel has every right to defend and to protect itself and its citizens. In this dark hour, Germany and France stand firmly by Israel's side.

Olaf Scholz - Oktober 2023

2023 Middle East Conflict

We mourn the death of Queen Elizabeth II. She was a role model and inspiration for millions, also here in Germany. Her commitment to German-British reconciliation after the horrors of World War II will remain unforgotten. She will be missed.

Olaf Scholz - September 2022

Queen Elizabeth II Death of Queen Elizabeth II

I believe in Europe. I am convinced by Europe. Not only as a heritage from the past, but as hope and a vision for the future.

Angela Merkel (as Chancellor of Germany) - July 2020, Speech at the European Parliament

2

I am convinced that no force and no ideology can surpress the urge of the people for freedom, equality and peace in the long run.

Angela Merkel - August 2021

1

My objective is to govern in a reasonable way until the last day that I am in charge.

Angela Merkel - January 2021

1

It can be done this way, or that way. I prefer this way.

Gerhard Schröder - 2003, about the tax reform

In Germany, success has many fathers, while failure is an orphan.

Gerhard Schröder - about Germany dropping out of the EURO 2000

Germany Success

That's the misery: Stupid people are so confident, the wise ones full of doubt.

Helmut Schmidt

9

Foolishness Intelligence Doubt

Libraries are the intellectual gas stations of the country.

Helmut Schmidt

2

Asking for optimism from a 93-year-old is a bit too much.

Helmut Schmidt

1

We are not chosen - we are elected. We're looking to talk to everyone who care about this democracy.

Willy Brandt

1

The best way of predicting the future is shaping it.

Willy Brandt

2

Democracy shouldn't go as far as voting who's the father in a family.

Willy Brandt

Power itself isn't good or bad.

Kurt Georg Kiesinger

All I say is: China, China, China!

Kurt Georg Kiesinger - September 1969

A compromise is the art of sharing a cake and having everyone think that they got the biggest piece of it.

Ludwig Erhard

1

It's not enough to charm the people once a year at the ballot box.

Ludwig Erhard

Elections & Voting

The market is the only democratic judge that we have in modern economy.

Ludwig Erhard

Falling down isn't dangerous or shameful. Not getting up is both.

Konrad Adenauer

6

Courage Giving Up

Become unpopular first, or people want perceive you seriously.

Konrad Adenauer

5

I usually agree with what God did, but putting limits on intelligence without putting limits on stupidity wasn't a great move.

Konrad Adenauer

2

Some a-hole leaks it online and I'm like, you know, looking at the guy in the mirror brushing my teeth, "Dude, what have you done? This could be punishable by law!" But the internet forced the studio to say, "We're gonna make this movie", and 24 hours later, that movie had a green light.

Ryan Reynolds - September 2025

But I don't understand why the Jeffrey Epstein case would be of interest to anybody. It's pretty boring stuff, it's sordid but it's boring and I don't understand why it keeps going.

Donald Trump - July 2025

The Epstein Files

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