Angela Merkel Quotes & Sayings

Free access to the single market will be granted to a country which accepts the four fundamental freedoms of movement of people, goods, services, and capital. — Angela Merkel

We will take care of every single person in our society. That is our task, — Angela Merkel

Thus, the focus on this main political goal must become more visible in EU politics and to achieve this, we need a political impulse. It must be clear what the priorities on the agenda are. — 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. — Angela Merkel

Don't get bogged down by life and other people's problems or hang ups. — Angela Merkel

I've learned that even the word 'jubilee' used in connection with the Reformation can give rise to discussions. — Angela Merkel

Solidarity and competitiveness are the two sides of a European coin. — Angela Merkel

The willingness to learn new skills is very high. — Angela Merkel

I never underestimated myself. And I never saw anything wrong with ambition. — Angela Merkel

There is anything but an assurance of success, I have to be very clear about that. — Angela Merkel

It is always the case that when something emerges - which, of course, from the perspective of the former West Germany looks very different - then people say, 'She hasn't told us this yet' and 'She hasn't told us that yet.' I don't know - maybe there are other things I didn't talk about because no one ever asked me. — Angela Merkel

IT companies in Bangalore are a reliable engine of development for India. — Angela Merkel

Germany's strength lies largely in the fact that the Federal Republic is a center of industry and that it's an export nation. — Angela Merkel

We have shared responsibility for global climate; we have to reduce climate change below 2 degrees Celsius. — Angela Merkel

During the course of 1989, more and more East Germans lost their fears of the state's repression and chicanery and went out on the streets. There was no turning back then. It is thanks to their courage the Wall was opened. — Angela Merkel

My life changed completely in 1989 with the fall of the wall, — 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. — Angela Merkel

Germany wants peaceful coexistence of Muslims and members of other religions. — Angela Merkel

The digital world creates situation where there are no secrets anymore. — Angela Merkel

Former president Wulff said Islam belongs to Germany. That is true. I also hold this opinion. — Angela Merkel

We've stated very clearly that no negotiating chapters between the European Union and Turkey will be concluded before the Ankara Protocol is complied with: that's to say before Turkey grants all E.U. member states, including Cyprus, access to its ports. — Angela Merkel

Climate change knows no borders. It will not stop before the Pacific islands and the whole of the international community here has to shoulder a responsibility to bring about a sustainable development. — Angela Merkel

The Freedom Bell in Berlin is, like the Liberty Bell in Philadelphia, a symbol which reminds us that freedom does not come about of itself. It must be struggled for and then defended anew every day of our lives. — Angela Merkel

For somebody who comes from Europe, I can only say if we give up this principle of territorial integrity of countries, then we will not be able to maintain the peaceful order of Europe that we've been able to achieve. — Angela Merkel

You can much better have an influence on the debate when you sit at the bargaining table and you can give input. — Angela Merkel

"The land of unlimited opportunity was for me, for a long time, impossible to reach. The wall, barbed wire and the order to shoot at those who tried to leave limited my access to the free world," she said. "Today is first and foremost a time to say thank you," "I shall personally never, ever forget this." — Angela Merkel

Global climate change is one of the greatest challenges facing humanity in the twenty-first century. — Angela Merkel

The West was a wonderful world to me. I decided then that if this is the way they did things, then I wanted to be part of it. — Angela Merkel

There are achievements of European integration that cannot be haggled over: for example the principle of free movement and the principle of non-discrimination. — Angela Merkel

We must never forget our responsibilities as politicians to our country and its citizens. We must always remain humble before our people. — Angela Merkel

This multicultural approach, saying that we simply live side by side and live happily with each other has failed. Utterly failed. — Angela Merkel

We are a country based on democracy, tolerance, and openness to the world. — Angela Merkel

I think that the EU with the Lisbon agenda has put the right emphasis on growth and employment. — Angela Merkel

The only thing the East German system taught us was that we should never do it that way again. — 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. — Angela Merkel

For me, personally, marriage is a man and a woman living together. — Angela Merkel

It's not five minutes to midnight. It's five minutes after midnight. — Angela Merkel

Nobody in Europe will be abandoned. Nobody in Europe will be excluded. Europe only succeeds if we work together. — Angela Merkel

I am not here for women only, but also for women. — Angela Merkel

Whenever I was able to work with Hillary Clinton, it was a great pleasure. — Angela Merkel

Multiculturalism leads to parallel societies and therefore remains a 'life lie.' — Angela Merkel

I am for registered civil partnerships. — 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. — Angela Merkel

For 10 years, I have fought passionately for climate protection. — Angela Merkel

I think we can say our energy system will be the most efficient and environmentally friendly in the world. — 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, — Angela Merkel

The real problem is that the financial base for our social security system is shrinking because the number of normal jobs is falling. In other words, we have to address the challenge of how to make employment, in the classic sense, attractive once again. — 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. — Angela Merkel

There are 1600 German companies active in India, and some of them are more than 100 years old. Our companies value India as a location for manufacturing and as a market. — Angela Merkel

The way I lived my life, I truly wasn't an active resistance fighter. — Angela Merkel

Whoever decides to dedicate their life to politics knows that earning money isn't the top priority. — 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. — Angela Merkel

As a woman with strong opinions talking about technology and politics is not always welcome in Germany. Nope, it's more like having a great cheerleader team behind me. People who follow my journey know I have a slightly colorful personality. The rest skipped out long ago. — Angela Merkel

The G7 - and earlier, the G8 - were a group of countries that shared the same values with regard to freedom and democracy, and through the annexation of Crimea, Russia made it clear at a certain point that these values of keeping the peace, integrity of the borders of a country were not being respected. — Angela Merkel

First, we need good, stable relations with Russia. Second, we must make every effort to save energy and focus on using various sources to meet our energy needs. We must not allow ourselves to become dependent. — 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. — Angela Merkel

I always used the free room that the G.D.R. allowed me ... There was no shadow over my childhood. — Angela Merkel

Partners like the United States and Germany must always discuss all issues, including these questions. I welcome the fact that a discussion over legitimate methods of questioning and interrogation is taking place in both Germany and the United States. — Angela Merkel

I am thankful for all the hard times I've been through and all the tears I've cried because that has put me as closer to God and made me the strong woman I am today! — Angela Merkel

We have to ensure politically that what's doable can indeed by translated into law, but what's not doable mustn't become European law. Otherwise, the auto industry will work somewhere with higher carbon emissions - and we can't want that. — Angela Merkel

Europe can only hold together and stand together, which is very important in times of migration challenges, terrorism challenges, if each country takes responsibility for itself. — Angela Merkel

Everyone wants a more simple tax system. But if this means that certain tax breaks have to be cut, people are no longer so enthusiastic. — Angela Merkel

The problem is, of course, that these interest groups are all asking for changes, but their enthusiasm for change rapidly disappears when it affects the core of their own interests. — Angela Merkel

Here we have the Schengen agreement, and the truth is that for years we trusted each other and set border controls on the outer borders of the European Union. And as was the case with the economic and monetary union, with this step, regarding the management of the Schengen area, we did not go all the way in terms of political solutions. — Angela Merkel

I want us to be able to preserve our level of prosperity. We must constantly remind ourselves that Germany has been eating into its capital. It is only through successful management that we can once again secure our foundation of prosperity and social security. — Angela Merkel

It seems to me that the fact that I am a woman is a bigger issue than the fact that I'm from the East. For me it isn't really important. I've only ever known myself as a woman. — Angela Merkel

We needed 40 years to overcome East Germany. Sometimes in history, one has to be prepared for the long haul and not ask after four months if it still makes sense to keep up our demands. — Angela Merkel

And I think that a woman as chancellor can also serve as a good example,. — Angela Merkel

Just because times change and alot of people think that dating multiple people is the thing these days, it just isn't a solid foundation at all in matters of the heart. I still believe in marriages that have a physically powerful foundation. — Angela Merkel

As politicians we have to react to the fact that many people do not feel that they can relate to the EU. — Angela Merkel

Always be more than you appear and never appear to be more than you are. — Angela Merkel

If we look at where relations between the Soviet Union and Germany were in 1945 and where we stand now, then we have achieved so much. — Angela Merkel

We feel bound to the Christian image of humanity - that is what defines us. Those who do not accept this are in the wrong place here. — Angela Merkel

Only our own strength, a strong conservative party, can prevent Red-Red-Green from taking power at the federal level in 2017. — Angela Merkel

If a market exists for low-paid work, then we should think about how we can make this type of work more attractive by providing government assistance. Of course, the wage-earner must be able to live off of his wages. We will not allow poverty wages or dumping wages. But the wage earner can receive a combined wage that includes both his actual wages and a government subsidy. — Angela Merkel

There's a rumour going around that states cannot go bankrupt. This rumour is not true. — Angela Merkel

I believe those that produce the least emissions in autos will also be those who have the greatest success worldwide. — Angela Merkel

Sometimes I can't stop myself from buying things just because I see them - even when I don't really need them. — Angela Merkel

Whenever you have political conflict, such as the one that we have now between Russia and Ukraine, but also in many other conflicts around the world, it has always proved to be right to try again and again to solve such a conflict. — Angela Merkel

The European Army is our long-term goal. But first we have to strengthen the European Defence Union. — Angela Merkel

It will not be possible to solve the current crisis with euro bonds. — Angela Merkel

This (multicultural) approach has failed, utterly failed, — Angela Merkel

The G7 and former G8 group has always viewed itself as a community of values, the annexation of Crimea, which is a blatant violation of the principles of international law, and the events in eastern Ukraine are serious violations of these common values. — 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. — Angela Merkel

We all want to be honest and draw lessons from the past, the WHO is the only international organization that has universal political legitimacy on global health issues. This is why it's so important to render its structures more efficient. — Angela Merkel

We believe in the rights of every individual to seek his fortune, in respect for others and in tolerance. Let us reply to the terrorists by resolutely living our values and by redoubling those values across all of Europe - now more than ever. — Angela Merkel

I see nothing that points to a recession in Germany. But I see considerable long-term tasks ahead of us that have to do with markets regaining confidence in Europe and that have a lot to do with reducing debt. — Angela Merkel

We believe that from both a German and a Polish perspective, it is desirable for Great Britain to remain in the European Union. — Angela Merkel

I have a relatively sunny spirit, and I always had the expectation that my path through life would be relatively sunny, no matter what happened. I have never allowed myself to be bitter. — 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. — Angela Merkel

Today's Russia is not to be compared with the Soviet Union of back then. — Angela Merkel

It is nonsense to say that Germans are unable to change. — Angela Merkel

I believe that we will move forward a little tomorrow but I have my doubts that we will achieve a result. — 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. — Angela Merkel

I am courageous at the decisive moment. But I need a good deal of start-up time, and I try to take as much as possible into consideration beforehand. — Angela Merkel

If I run a time-limited test program, I'll never discover whether markets with additional employment truly exist. A solution in the low-wage sector cannot be a limited special program. — Angela Merkel

Politicians have to be committed to people in equal measures. — Angela Merkel

Let us answer the terrorists by living our values with courage. — Angela Merkel

The majority of decisions in Europe are done by unanimity. That's why it is important to be to have good relations with all parts. — Angela Merkel

We work well together with the United Kingdom - particularly, perhaps, when we talk about new rules for the European Union. — Angela Merkel