"This fact lays on us - so long as the maintenance of good relations with Russia seems to us worth an effort - the duty of satisfying Russia that she has no need to fear any invasion of her sphere of interests on Germany's part"
About this Quote
The rhetoric pivots on the soothing language of "duty" and "fear". Germany, he implies, is the mature actor obliged to manage Russian anxieties. Yet the phrase "sphere of interests" admits what the reassurance tries to hide: Europe is being partitioned in the imagination of great powers, with "spheres" treated as quasi-natural territories to be respected or violated depending on strategic need. The line "no need to fear any invasion" also dodges the key question. It promises no invasion "on Germany's part" while leaving room for pressure by proxy, diplomatic isolation, or opportunistic alignment with Austria-Hungary. In other words: we won't storm the gates, but we may still tighten the siege.
Read in the pre-World War I atmosphere of alliance politics and mutual suspicion, the quote captures the era's tragic managerial mindset. Peace is something you "maintain" through calibrated signals, not trust; rivals are soothed like investors; and "interests" replace principles. Von Bulow isn't selling friendship. He's selling risk mitigation - and reminding everyone that mitigation is reversible.
Quote Details
| Topic | Peace |
|---|---|
| Source | Help us find the source |
| Cite |
Citation Formats
APA Style (7th ed.)
Bulow, Bernhard von. (2026, January 18). This fact lays on us - so long as the maintenance of good relations with Russia seems to us worth an effort - the duty of satisfying Russia that she has no need to fear any invasion of her sphere of interests on Germany's part. FixQuotes. https://fixquotes.com/quotes/this-fact-lays-on-us-so-long-as-the-maintenance-19929/
Chicago Style
Bulow, Bernhard von. "This fact lays on us - so long as the maintenance of good relations with Russia seems to us worth an effort - the duty of satisfying Russia that she has no need to fear any invasion of her sphere of interests on Germany's part." FixQuotes. January 18, 2026. https://fixquotes.com/quotes/this-fact-lays-on-us-so-long-as-the-maintenance-19929/.
MLA Style (9th ed.)
"This fact lays on us - so long as the maintenance of good relations with Russia seems to us worth an effort - the duty of satisfying Russia that she has no need to fear any invasion of her sphere of interests on Germany's part." FixQuotes, 18 Jan. 2026, https://fixquotes.com/quotes/this-fact-lays-on-us-so-long-as-the-maintenance-19929/. Accessed 11 Feb. 2026.
