All Quotes

If you are prepared to run for public office, you also have to be willing to accept a debate about you. ”

Germany has always stood for an E.U. of the 27 countries. But in light of Britain's continued resistance to further integration steps, as we saw with the fiscal pact, there are limits to my optimism in this regard. It's quite possible that we will have to create the new institutions for the euro zone first. ”

My private financial situation is such that I don't need to worry about my investments. I don't have much to invest. ”

The United States lived on borrowed money for too long, inflating its financial sector unnecessarily and neglecting its small and mid-sized industrial companies. ”

I would wish for more British involvement in Europe, not less. ”

Mr. Geithner is an excellent minister. We have a good personal relationship. ”

I've been a politician long enough to know that every year will find us living in a situation that one couldn't have imagined a year previously. Sometimes it's better than we imagined, sometimes it's not as good. ”

I would caution against fueling cheap populism. First of all, every German who has spent a vacation in Greece knows that the standard of living there isn't higher than it is in Germany. Second, Greece is paying a high price for European assistance. ”

Even when one is doing well, one still worries that things might go badly again in the future. This is an old observation based on human experience. ”

It is true that no member state can be required to make payments to others. But if countries want to offer voluntary assistance, as in the Greek case, this isn't only allowed, but it's also in Germany's interest. We all benefit by ensuring the stability of the euro zone. ”