"A statesman... must wait until he hears the steps of God sounding through events, then leap up and grasp the hem of His garment."

"A really great man is known by three signs: generosity in the design, humanity in the execution, moderation in success."

"One day the great European War will come out of some damned foolish thing in the Balkans."

"The statesman's task is to hear the rustling of God's mantle through history and then to grasp it."

"The only way to avoid mistakes is to gain experience, but experience is gained by making mistakes."