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If war is forced upon us, we shall fight and, with God's help, not perish. But to conjure up a war ourselves without having our honor or vital interests imperiled, this I would consider a sin against Germany's destiny, even if human foresight would predict a total victory.

— Theobald von Bethmann-Hollweg

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More quotes by Theobald von Bethmann-Hollweg

It is improbable that England will immediately enter the fray.

As long as Russia does not commit a hostile act, I believe that our stand, directed towards localization, must remain peaceful, too.

The Italian Government has now written her perfidy indelibly with letters of blood on the pages of history.

We can assure the English cabinet—presupposing its neutrality—that even in case of a victorious war, we will seek no territorial aggrandizement in Europe at the cost of France.

Just for a word—"neutrality," a word which in war-time had so often been disregarded—just for a scrap of paper, Great Britain was going to make war on a kindred nation who desired nothing better than to be friends with her.

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