Paul von Hindenburg

"I have always held that reputation, once lost, is nearly impossible to recover."

"The future rewards those who prepare for it in times of peace."

"A nation's true power lies in the character and will of its people."

"I believe that honor and victory, though both desirable, are not always compatible."

"The test of a nation is not how it treats its friends but how it treats its enemies."

"One must act with conviction even when surrounded by doubt and uncertainty."

"A leader who serves his own interests before his nation's is a traitor."

"I have learned that the simplest solutions are often the most effective."

"The strength of an alliance lies in the alignment of interests and values."

"A man must choose between comfort and honor; there is no middle path."

"I believe that every generation must earn the freedom it inherits."

"The foundation of lasting power is the consent of the governed, not force alone."

"One cannot compromise on matters of fundamental principle without compromising oneself."

"A nation that lives for today will have no tomorrow."

"I have seen that greatness often requires isolation from the approval of peers."

"The measure of a man is what he does when his actions are not observed."

"A leader must balance the demands of tradition with the needs of progress."