"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"

Gustav Stresemann's quote talks to the importance of comprehending the intricacies of a situation prior to forming a viewpoint. He is describing the old Germany, and how it was often evaluated based upon looks instead of reality. He is suggesting that people ought to take the time to look beyond the surface area and think about the underlying problems prior to forming an opinion. This is an important lesson for all of us, as it is simple to make presumptions based on what we see, rather than taking the time to understand the full context. Stresemann's quote is a tip that we need to make every effort to be more thoughtful and considerate in our judgments, and to make the effort to comprehend the reality of a circumstance prior to forming an opinion.