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Angela Merkel

Angela Merkel Quotes

Chancellor of Germany

Former Chancellor of Germany and politician, born on July 17, 1954 in Hamburg, Germany. She is the first female Chancellor of Germany and served from 2005 to 2021. During her tenure, she led Germany through a series of domestic and international challenges, including the European debt crisis and the refugee crisis.

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Famous Angela Merkel Quotes

“Whoever decides to dedicate their life to politics knows that earning money isn't the top priority.”

Knows Money Priorities Earning Uprising Top Priorities Earning Money

Author:Angela Merkel

“At the beginning of the 60's our country called the foreign workers to come to Germany and now they live in our country. We kidded ourselves a while, we said: 'They won't stay, sometime they will be gone.' But this isn't reality.”

Said Country Reality Gone Workers Our Country Germany

Author:Angela Merkel

“Above all it is important to point out that we can only maintain our prosperity in Europe if we belong to the most innovative regions in the world.”

Ifs World Important Europe Prosperity Regions Innovative

Author:Angela Merkel

“As politicians we have to react to the fact that many people do not feel that they can relate to the EU.”

People Feels Facts Politician Relate

Author:Angela Merkel

“Nobody in Europe will be abandoned. Nobody in Europe will be excluded. Europe only succeeds if we work together.”

Ifs Together Succeed Europe Working Together Abandoned Excluded

Author:Angela Merkel

“Politicians have to be committed to people in equal measures.”

People Politician Equal Committed

Author:Angela Merkel

“The euro is our common fate, and Europe is our common future.”

Common Fate Europe Euro

Author:Angela Merkel

“I said, yet again, for Germany, Europe is not only indispensable, it is part and parcel of our identity. We've always said German unity, European unity and integration, that's two parts of one and the same coin. But we want, obviously, to boost our competitiveness.”

Want Said Two Identity Europe Unity Germany Indispensable Integration Coins Boost Competitiveness Parcel

Author:Angela Merkel

“In the German football team players from different clubs need to get on with each other both on and off the pitch. In the grand coalition Christian Democrats and Social Democrats sit in the same boat and need to pull in the same direction.”

Needs Different Christian Social Player Team Football Democrat Clubs Boat Coalitions And Off Football Team Inspirational Team Team Player

Author:Angela Merkel

“Overcoming the Cold War required courage from the people of Central and Eastern Europe and what was then the German Democratic Republic, but it also required the steadfastness of Western partner over many decades when many had long lost hope of integration of the two Germanys and Europe.”

People Long Two War Lost Cold Europe Overcoming Democratic Western Decades Partners Republic Cold War Integration Eastern Eastern Europe Steadfastness Lost Hope Democratic Republic

Author:Angela Merkel

“For a few years, more people have been leaving our country than entering it. Wherever it is possible, we must lower the entry hurdles for those who bring the country forward.”

People Years Has Beens Country Leaving Our Country Entering Umpires Entry Hurdle Hurdling Obstacles

Author:Angela Merkel

“From this experience we have learned that in a big party it is important to have the necessary and often controversial discussions on policy issues such as the health system while in opposition.”

Important Bigs Party Issues Policy Discussion Opposition Controversial Health System

Author:Angela Merkel

“I will not let anyone tell me we must spend more money. This crisis did not come about because we issued too little money but because we created economic growth with too much money and it was not sustainable growth.”

Littles Growth Too Much Economic Crisis More Money Economic Growth Little Money

Author:Angela Merkel

“If we remind ourselves of the fact that every fifth American today rightly points and perhaps also with a certain degree of pride to his German ancestry or her German ancestry, we can safely say that we, indeed, share common roots.”

Ifs Facts Today Certain Common Share Pride Degrees Roots Fifth Ancestry

Author:Angela Merkel

“I think that the EU with the Lisbon agenda has put the right emphasis on growth and employment.”

Thinking Growth Employment Agendas Emphasis

Author:Angela Merkel

“It is nonsense to say that Germans are unable to change.”

Nonsense Unable To Change

Author:Angela Merkel

“It will not be possible to solve the current crisis with euro bonds.”

Crisis Currents Solve Euro

Author:Angela Merkel

“Today's Russia is not to be compared with the Soviet Union of back then.”

Today Unions Russia Soviet Soviet Union

Author:Angela Merkel

“At this time - we're in a dramatic crisis - euro bonds are precisely the wrong answer. They lead us into a debt union, not a stability union. Each country has to take its own steps to reduce its debt.”

Country Answers Steps Crisis Unions Debt Dramatic Stability Euro Wrong Answers

Author:Angela Merkel

“Eurobonds are absolutely wrong. In order to bring about common interest rates, you need similar competitiveness levels, similar budget situations. You don't get them by collectivizing debts.”

Needs Order Interest Levels Common Situation Rate Debt Budgets Interest Rate Competitiveness Common Interests

Author:Angela Merkel

“Herr Schroder has conducted two electoral campaigns, and he is doing it again now, by not telling people what is really necessary. He keeps avoiding the difficult and uncomfortable issues, those that imply changes and therefore provoke discussions.”

People Two Difficult Issues Campaigns Discussion Uncomfortable Provoking Avoiding

Author:Angela Merkel

“I am not an expert in this field but I do try to keep up to date with the Bundesliga. And I do follow World Cups and European Championships more closely.”

World Trying Fields Europe Cups Experts Championship World Cup Up To Date

Author:Angela Merkel

“It certainly is dangerous that there are only a few clubs left in Europe that can afford to pay millions. At the end of the day however, the spectators decide the rates of pay - by watching the games and consuming the goods and services advertised on sports TV programmes.”

Ends Games Left Sports Pay Millions Dangerous Tvs Europe Rate Clubs The End Of The Day Goods Spectators Consuming Programmes Goods And Services

Author:Angela Merkel

“On the one hand, the financial projection is on the agenda - we will see if this problem can be resolved or not. I think it is a right idea to stage a special summit, which would deal with the question of priorities of European politics.”

Ifs Thinking Ideas Problem Hands Deals Special Stage Financial Priorities Agendas Summit Projection Right Ideas

Author:Angela Merkel

“Personally, I think that for example the chemical directive in its present form does too much damage to the chemical industry - especially the medium sized businesses - and will hurt our worldwide competitiveness.”

Thinking Doe Form Hurt Too Much Example Industry Mediums Damage Chemicals Competitiveness

Author:Angela Merkel

“So Europe needs to be competitive and we also need to be competitive if we wish to remain an interesting economic partner for the United States. This has to be done on the basis of strength, of competitiveness.”

Ifs Needs States Done Wish Interesting United United States Economic Europe Bases Partners Competitiveness

Author:Angela Merkel

“That makes me think of the 2002 World Cup Final above all else. Nobody thought at the time that our team would get through to the Final against Brazil. We should remember that this summer.”

Thinking World Should Remember Team Summer Finals Cups Brazil World Cup Cup Finals

Author:Angela Merkel

“We're saying this to both countries: We want a two-state solution. We want a Jewish state of Israel and alongside an independent Palestinian state. Unilateral measures are not helping at all to bring about this cause, and we agree that we wish to cooperate very closely on this, because as we both say, time is of the essence.”

Want Two Country States Helping Wish Causes Solutions Essence Independent Agree Israel Palestinian

Author:Angela Merkel

“I am not here for women only, but also for women.”

Women History Men Women

Author:Angela Merkel

“I never underestimated myself. And I never saw anything wrong with ambition.”

Saws Ambition Badass Underestimated

Author:Angela Merkel

“...climate change is accelerating. It threatens our well being, our security, and our economic development. It will lead to uncontrollable risks and dramatic damage if we do not take resolute countermeasures.”

Ifs Wells Energy Environment Risk Economic Security Development Climate Climate Change Well Being Dramatic Damage Economic Development Resolute Uncontrollable

Author:Angela Merkel

“I think we can say our energy system will be the most efficient and environmentally friendly in the world.”

Thinking World Energy Environment Climate Change Friendly Efficient Environmentally Friendly

Author:Angela Merkel

“I don't believe you are simply born with the ambition of becoming chancellor. But if you want to make a difference, if you enjoy putting ideas into practice, then the post of chancellor has to be the one presenting the biggest opportunity of all.”

Ifs Want Believe Ideas Opportunity Enjoy Born Differences Practice Becoming Ambition Don't Believe Posts Making A Difference Presenting I Don't Believe You

Author:Angela Merkel

“We must never forget our responsibilities as politicians to our country and its citizens. We must always remain humble before our people.”

People Country Forget Responsibility Citizens Politician Humble Our Country Never Forget

Author:Angela Merkel

“That is why everyone in politics, and we do it, must make sure that they do not depend on one single interest group. A good compromise is one where everybody makes a contribution.”

Interest Groups Depends Compromise Contribution Interest Groups

Author:Angela Merkel

“We will take care of every single person in our society. That is our task.”

Persons Care Tasks Take Care Our Society Single Person

Author:Angela Merkel

“My life changed completely in 1989 with the fall of the wall.”

Fall Changed Wall Life Changing

Author:Angela Merkel

“This (multicultural) approach has failed, utterly failed.”

Approach Multicultural

Author:Angela Merkel

“If Europe today accounts for just over 7 per cent of the world's population, produces around 25 per cent of global GDP and has to finance 50 per cent of global social spending, then it's obvious that it will have to work very hard to maintain its prosperity and way of life.”

Ifs World Way Hard Today Social Produce Europe Accounts Population Prosperity Obvious Spending Finance Cents Gdp

Author:Angela Merkel

“I feel sorry sometimes for these sportsmen and women who put in just as much effort as the footballers. For example, athletes train at least as hard as footballers but have to be happy if they can earn enough to finance a decent education.”

Ifs Feels Sometimes Hard Enough Effort Example Men And Women Train Sorry Athlete Finance Decent Footballer Sportsman

Author:Angela Merkel

“I don't carry any early childhood trauma around with me, if that's what you're hinting at. The story of the bicycles - and there were three of them which were stolen from me - I've dealt with it well.”

Ifs Wells Stories Three Childhood Trauma Stolen Bicycle Childhood Trauma Early Childhood

Author:Angela Merkel

“I felt really sorry for Oliver Kahn. Up to that point he had made lots of saves for the German team. Of course he could have caught the ball but it just happened. It was bad luck. In that situation, you need to be very strong psychologically to carry on.”

Needs Made Courses Strong Felt Situation Happened Team Balls Luck Sorry Caught Very Strong Bad Luck

Author:Angela Merkel

“Always be more than you appear and never appear to be more than you are.”

Author:Angela Merkel

“Budget consolidation and economic growth are two sides of the same coin.”

Two Sides Growth Economic Budgets Coins Economic Growth Two Sides Population Growth Consolidation

Author:Angela Merkel

“In Europe it is particularly important that we build good relations to everyone who holds political responsibility because Europe can only be build together.”

Important Together Political Responsibility Europe Relation Political Responsibility

Author:Angela Merkel

“It's not five minutes to midnight. It's five minutes after midnight.”

Five Minutes Climate Change Midnight Five Minutes

Author:Angela Merkel

“The willingness to learn new skills is very high.”

Education Skills Willingness High Heels New Skills Willingness To Learn

Author:Angela Merkel

“Neither the chains of dictatorship nor the fetters of oppression can keep down the forces of freedom for long.”

Long Politics Force Women Oppression Chains Empowering Dictatorship Fetters

Author:Angela Merkel

“We think of cannabis as a drug, in accordance with international opinions. This means that even consuming small amounts can lead to very severe dependence. With alcohol or cigarettes however, sensibly limited consumption does not bear the risk of immediate addictiveness as this is the case with cannabis according to our opinion. With alcohol there surely is an element of a tradition. However, enjoyed in moderation, as supplement to a meal for example, alcohol is not something that causes immediate dependence. Still, there is a great need for prevention and information in this matter.”

“A good compromise is one where everybody makes a contribution.”

Inspiring Compromise Contribution

Author:Angela Merkel

About the Author

Born: July 17, 1954
Known for: Chancellor of Germany
Quotes: 175

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