Morality is the excuse of the weak. The strong merely remain silent and act.
Otto von Bismarck is the epitome of Realpolitik, having completely reshaped the 19th-century European landscape solely through 'power and calculation'.
1. The Logic of Iron and Blood
"The great questions of the day will not be decided by speeches and majority resolutions, but by iron and blood." Bismarck disdained the illusion of debate and the inherent blind spots of democratic procedures. He was the embodiment of a realism that asserted only military force (iron) and sacrifice (blood) could physically expand state power.
2. The Web of Alliances: The Bismarckian System of Governance
He utilized even war as 'the most cost-effective diplomatic tool.' To avoid unnecessary animosity, he refrained from excessively seizing enemy territory even after victory, and constructed an intricate diplomatic network (the Bismarckian System) designed to ensure Germany remained an advantageous 'bystander' in any conflict.