--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: But to “settle” the Eastern Question was…" description: "\"“But to “settle” the Eastern Question was beyond even Disraeli’s power—beyond, it seems, any human power, for it still haunts the world today.”\" — Barb..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a82/barbara-w-tuchman-8258_human-power_but-to-settle-the-eastern-question-was-b_2069360.jpg" --- # But to “settle” the Eastern Question was beyond even… ![“But to “settle” the Eastern Question was beyond even Disraeli’s power—beyond, it seems, any human power, for it still haunts the world today.” quote by Barbara W. Tuchman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a82/barbara-w-tuchman-8258_human-power_but-to-settle-the-eastern-question-was-b_2069360.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a82/barbara-w-tuchman-8258_human-power_but-to-settle-the-eastern-question-was-b_2069360.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a82/barbara-w-tuchman-8258_human-power_but-to-settle-the-eastern-question-was-b_2069360.jpg) > ““But to “settle” the Eastern Question was beyond even Disraeli’s power—beyond, it seems, any human power, for it still haunts the world today.”” [Barbara W. Tuchman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-w-tuchman/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The complex diplomatic and geopolitical problems of the Ottoman Empire’s decline could not be solved by any single leader, and their legacy continues to affect modern politics. **In simple terms:** Great power struggles leave lasting, unresolved issues. Key Takeaway Recognize that some historical problems persist beyond individual control. Themes history geopolitics legacy power conflict Mood reflective serious analytical Type historical political educational When to use this quote - foreign policy analysis - academic research - education curricula - media commentary - diplomatic negotiations Key Concepts imperial decline balance of power nationalism colonialism Questions to Reflect On - How do past diplomatic failures shape today’s international relations? - What can modern policymakers learn from the Eastern Question? A Different Perspective Even powerful leaders cannot always resolve deep-rooted geopolitical tensions. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Disraeli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/disraeli/) [Disraeli Power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/disraeli-power-3987855/) [Eastern Question](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/eastern-question-3987857/) [Human power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-power/) [Power Haunts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/power-haunts-3987856/) [Question Disraeli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/question-disraeli-3987854/) ## Related quotes > [“Oversimplified perhaps, this in essence is the problem known to nineteenth-century diplomacy as the Eastern Question.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-w-tuchman/oversimplified-perhaps-this-in-essence-is-the-problem-known-to/) [Barbara W. Tuchman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-w-tuchman/) > [ It has been said that the people of this country are deeply interested in the humanitarian and philanthropic considerations involved in \[the Eastern Question\].… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-disraeli/it-has-been-said-that-the-people-of-this-country-are-deeply/) [Benjamin Disraeli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-disraeli/) > [“But, say what you like, our Queen reigns over the greatest nation that ever existed.” “Which nation?” asked the younger stranger, “for she reigns…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-abbott-parry/but-say-what-you-like-our-queen-reigns-over-the-greatest-nation-that/) [Edward Abbott Parry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-abbott-parry/) > [Disraeli was now at the height of his fame and popularity. He still had his enemies... But the people as a whole now admired…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hibbert/disraeli-was-now-at-the-height-of-his-fame-and-popularity-he-still/) [Christopher Hibbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hibbert/) > [When I left the dining room after sitting next to Mr. Gladstone, I thought he was the cleverest man in England. But after sitting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-disraeli/when-i-left-the-dining-room-after-sitting-next-to-mr-gladstone-i/) [Benjamin Disraeli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-disraeli/) > [Disraeli was my favourite Tory. He was an adventurer pure and simple, or impure and complex. I'm glad to say Gladstone got the better…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-foot/disraeli-was-my-favourite-tory-he-was-an-adventurer-pure-and-simple/) [Michael Foot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-foot/) > [“Caring means cultivating the skills of an active listener. That is easier said than done, as an anecdote about the extraordinary social skills of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marian-deegan/caring-means-cultivating-the-skills-of-an-active-listener-that-is/) [Marian Deegan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marian-deegan/) > [Henry Kissinger may have wished I had presented him as a combination of Charles DeGaulle and Disraeli, but I didn't…out of respect for DeGaulle…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oriana-fallaci/henry-kissinger-may-have-wished-i-had-presented-him-as-a-combination/) [Oriana Fallaci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oriana-fallaci/) > [Deploring change is the unchangeable habit of all Englishmen. If you find any important figures who really like change, such as Bernard Shaw, Keir…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raymond-postgate/deploring-change-is-the-unchangeable-habit-of-all-englishmen-if-you/) [Raymond Postgate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raymond-postgate/) > [You read what Disraeli had to say. I don't remember what he said. He said something. He's no longer with us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-dole/you-read-what-disraeli-had-to-say-i-don-t-remember-what-he-said-he/) [Bob Dole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-dole/) > [There is little doubt that, until 1846 when he helped to engineer the resignation of Robert Peel, Disraeli was driven by an ambition to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hibbert/there-is-little-doubt-that-until-1846-when-he-helped-to-engineer-the/) [Christopher Hibbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hibbert/) > [A member of Parliament to Disraeli: 'Sir, you will either die on the gallows or of some unspeakable disease.' That depends, Sir,' said Disraeli,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-disraeli/a-member-of-parliament-to-disraeli-sir-you-will-either-die-on-the/) [Benjamin Disraeli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-disraeli/) > [Boris Johnson has turned the party of Disraeli and Churchill into a vehicle for shrill English nationalism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-boles/boris-johnson-has-turned-the-party-of-disraeli-and-churchill-into-a/) [Nick Boles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-boles/) > [Figures often beguile me, particularly when I have the arranging of them myself; in which case the remark attributed to Disraeli would often apply…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/figures-often-beguile-me-particularly-when-i-have-the-arranging-of/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [Just begin a story with such a phrase as 'I remember Disraeli - poor old Dizz! - once saying to me, in answer to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-parker/just-begin-a-story-with-such-a-phrase-as-i-remember-disraeli-poor-old/) [Dorothy Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-parker/) ## More by Barbara W. Tuchman > [“The world remembers the battle ever since by the taxis. A hundred of them were already in the service of the Military Government of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-w-tuchman/the-world-remembers-the-battle-ever-since-by-the-taxis-a-hundred-of/) [Barbara W. Tuchman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-w-tuchman/) > [“The cutting off of Russia with all its consequences, the vain and sanguinary tragedy of Gallipoli, the diversion of Allied strength in the campaigns…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-w-tuchman/the-cutting-off-of-russia-with-all-its-consequences-the-vain-and/) [Barbara W. Tuchman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-w-tuchman/) > [“In the Hundred Years’ War that dragged France and England through the 14th century, both sides would have liked to quit but could not,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-w-tuchman/in-the-hundred-years-war-that-dragged-france-and-england-through-the/) [Barbara W. Tuchman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-w-tuchman/) > [“The occasions when an individual is able to harness a nation are memorable, and Grey’s speech proved to be one of those junctures by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-w-tuchman/the-occasions-when-an-individual-is-able-to-harness-a-nation-are/) [Barbara W. Tuchman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-w-tuchman/) > [“Wherever the Reformation took hold the Bible replaced the Pope as the final spiritual authority.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-w-tuchman/wherever-the-reformation-took-hold-the-bible-replaced-the-pope-as-the/) [Barbara W. Tuchman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-w-tuchman/) > [“Inevitably, as hatred of monarchy was added to hatred of episcopacy, they were led to republicanism.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-w-tuchman/inevitably-as-hatred-of-monarchy-was-added-to-hatred-of-episcopacy/) [Barbara W. Tuchman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-w-tuchman/) > [“This country is indeed in a melancholy situation; sunk in ease, devoted to the pursuits of gain, incumbered with a complicated and perplexed constitution,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-w-tuchman/this-country-is-indeed-in-a-melancholy-situation-sunk-in-ease-devoted/) [Barbara W. Tuchman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-w-tuchman/) > [“Disaster is rarely as pervasive as it seems from recorded accounts. The fact of being on the record makes it appear continuous and ubiquitous…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-w-tuchman/disaster-is-rarely-as-pervasive-as-it-seems-from-recorded-accounts/) [Barbara W. Tuchman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-w-tuchman/) > [“Persian poet said, the rose blooms reddest where some buried Caesar bled. The”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-w-tuchman/persian-poet-said-the-rose-blooms-reddest-where-some-buried-caesar/) [Barbara W. Tuchman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-w-tuchman/) > [“Cromwell. The door was flung open. In stalked the Protector, disgusted once more with the inability of human weaklings to come to the point,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-w-tuchman/cromwell-the-door-was-flung-open-in-stalked-the-protector-disgusted/) [Barbara W. Tuchman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-w-tuchman/) > [“Not a passing phenomenon nor an external force, the companies had become a way of life, a part of society itself, used and joined…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-w-tuchman/not-a-passing-phenomenon-nor-an-external-force-the-companies-had/) [Barbara W. Tuchman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-w-tuchman/) > [“Guides were Franciscan monks, sole custodians of the holy places after 1230, who recited the history and traditions associated with each town or monument…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-w-tuchman/guides-were-franciscan-monks-sole-custodians-of-the-holy-places-after/) [Barbara W. Tuchman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-w-tuchman/) > [“Although the defects of the Russian Army were notorious, although the Russian winter, not the Russian Army, had turned Napoleon back from Moscow, although…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-w-tuchman/although-the-defects-of-the-russian-army-were-notorious-although-the/) [Barbara W. Tuchman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-w-tuchman/) > [“Had all the world been a school and Wilson its principal, he would have been the greatest statesman in history.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-w-tuchman/had-all-the-world-been-a-school-and-wilson-its-principal-he-would/) [Barbara W. Tuchman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-w-tuchman/) > [“Have we,” he wondered, “conceived a merely human project and then imagined it to be a decree of the Almighty?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-w-tuchman/have-we-he-wondered-conceived-a-merely-human-project-and-then/) [Barbara W. Tuchman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-w-tuchman/) [Explore all 82 Barbara W. Tuchman quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-w-tuchman/) ## More Disraeli quotes > [Henry Kissinger may have wished I had presented him as a combination of Charles DeGaulle and Disraeli, but I didn't…out of respect for DeGaulle…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oriana-fallaci/henry-kissinger-may-have-wished-i-had-presented-him-as-a-combination/) [Oriana Fallaci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oriana-fallaci/) > [Figures often beguile me, particularly when I have the arranging of them myself; in which case the remark attributed to Disraeli would often apply…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/figures-often-beguile-me-particularly-when-i-have-the-arranging-of/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [Boris Johnson has turned the party of Disraeli and Churchill into a vehicle for shrill English nationalism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-boles/boris-johnson-has-turned-the-party-of-disraeli-and-churchill-into-a/) [Nick Boles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-boles/) > [A member of Parliament to Disraeli: 'Sir, you will either die on the gallows or of some unspeakable disease.' That depends, Sir,' said Disraeli,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-disraeli/a-member-of-parliament-to-disraeli-sir-you-will-either-die-on-the/) [Benjamin Disraeli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-disraeli/) > [There is little doubt that, until 1846 when he helped to engineer the resignation of Robert Peel, Disraeli was driven by an ambition to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hibbert/there-is-little-doubt-that-until-1846-when-he-helped-to-engineer-the/) [Christopher Hibbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hibbert/) > [You read what Disraeli had to say. I don't remember what he said. He said something. He's no longer with us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-dole/you-read-what-disraeli-had-to-say-i-don-t-remember-what-he-said-he/) [Bob Dole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-dole/) > [Deploring change is the unchangeable habit of all Englishmen. If you find any important figures who really like change, such as Bernard Shaw, Keir…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raymond-postgate/deploring-change-is-the-unchangeable-habit-of-all-englishmen-if-you/) [Raymond Postgate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raymond-postgate/) > [“Caring means cultivating the skills of an active listener. That is easier said than done, as an anecdote about the extraordinary social skills of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marian-deegan/caring-means-cultivating-the-skills-of-an-active-listener-that-is/) [Marian Deegan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marian-deegan/) > [Disraeli was my favourite Tory. He was an adventurer pure and simple, or impure and complex. I'm glad to say Gladstone got the better…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-foot/disraeli-was-my-favourite-tory-he-was-an-adventurer-pure-and-simple/) [Michael Foot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-foot/) > [When I left the dining room after sitting next to Mr. Gladstone, I thought he was the cleverest man in England. But after sitting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-disraeli/when-i-left-the-dining-room-after-sitting-next-to-mr-gladstone-i/) [Benjamin Disraeli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-disraeli/) > [Disraeli was now at the height of his fame and popularity. He still had his enemies... But the people as a whole now admired…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hibbert/disraeli-was-now-at-the-height-of-his-fame-and-popularity-he-still/) [Christopher Hibbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hibbert/) > [“But, say what you like, our Queen reigns over the greatest nation that ever existed.” “Which nation?” asked the younger stranger, “for she reigns…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-abbott-parry/but-say-what-you-like-our-queen-reigns-over-the-greatest-nation-that/) [Edward Abbott Parry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-abbott-parry/) > [Just begin a story with such a phrase as 'I remember Disraeli - poor old Dizz! - once saying to me, in answer to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-parker/just-begin-a-story-with-such-a-phrase-as-i-remember-disraeli-poor-old/) [Dorothy Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-parker/) > [“Life is too short to be small. —BENJAMIN DISRAELI”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-ferriss/life-is-too-short-to-be-small-benjamin-disraeli/) [Timothy Ferriss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-ferriss/) [Browse all 15 Disraeli quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/disraeli/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“But to “settle” the Eastern Question was beyond even Disraeli’s power—beyond, it seems, any human power, for it still haunts the world today.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Barbara W. 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