"The history of nations shows that words are not always immediately followed by action"
- Gustav Stresemann
About this Quote
This quote by Gustav Stresemann talks to the idea that words and actions are not constantly in sync. History has actually revealed us that countries often make guarantees or statements that are not followed up with action. This could be due to a variety of factors, such as an absence of resources, an absence of political will, or a lack of public assistance. It is essential to bear in mind that words are not always indicative of action, and that pledges need to not be trusted. This quote serves as a pointer that words are not constantly followed by action, which we must be wary of taking promises at face value. It is necessary to look beyond the words and think about the context in which they are made in order to identify if action will follow.
"A lawyer without history or literature is a mechanic, a mere working mason; if he possesses some knowledge of these, he may venture to call himself an architect"
"We have our own history, our own language, our own culture. But our destiny is also tied up with the destinies of other people - history has made us all South Africans"
"Creating the kind of connections between people that lead to collective civic action, political expression, community dialogue, shared cultural experiences"
"It is humiliating to remain with our hands folded while others write history. It matters little who wins. To make a people great it is necessary to send them to battle even if you have to kick them in the pants. That is what I shall do"