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From "The Life of Bismarck, Private and Political: With Descriptive Notices of His Ancestry" by Hesekiel, George
Otto von Bismarck
The central figure of the biography, a Prussian statesman and eventual Chancellor.
Core Belief
"That the sovereignty of the Prussian crown is paramount and essential for the well-being of its people and the unification of Germany."
Worldview
Sees the world as a complex political landscape where power and national interests are the driving forces. He believes in the importance of maintaining a strong military and a clear sense of national identity.
Personality
Intelligent, ambitious, determined, patriotic, and possessing a strong will. He is also depicted as humorous, witty, and capable of great affection.
In Their Own Words
"“Far from Sufficient!” quoth Bismarck."
"“Voilà mon Médecin!”"
Discussions with Otto von Bismarck
I'm an organizer fighting a development company that's displacing hundreds of low-income families in my neighborhood. They've bought off city council members, their lawyers are crushing us in court, and our peaceful marches get covered for one news cycle then forgotten.
Some younger activists want to escalate. Block construction equipment. Occupy buildings. Make it too expensive and embarrassing for them to continue. "The system doesn't respond to niceness," they say. "It responds to power and disruption."
The older members of our coalition are horrified. They marched with Dr. King. They believe nonviolent moral witness is the only legitimate path. They say if we break the law, we become the villains.
But the families are being evicted *now*. Every month we spend on incremental progress, another building is demolished. At what point does commitment to peaceful means become complicity with the violence being done to us?
— Peaceful Protest or Hardball in Portland8 messagesI'm the new CEO of a regional hospital system that desperately needs reform. Quality scores are dropping, staff morale is terrible, and three of our five board members are blocking every change I propose. They're old-guard, connected to donors, and more interested in their own legacy than patient outcomes.
I have two paths: I can try to win them over through patience, relationship-building, and demonstrating results. My COO calls this "leading by example" and thinks it's the only sustainable approach.
Or I can use the leverage I have—I know about some questionable contracts they've approved, and the major donor who recruited me has offered to help push them out if I give the word.
The gentle path could take years we don't have. The hard path could work but might make enemies who torpedo us later. How do you create change when the people in power won't be moved by reason or example?
— The Resistant Board in Baltimore4 messagesDiscuss The Life of Bismarck, Private and Political: With Descriptive Notices of His Ancestry0 messages
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