--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: In her usual manner, Merkel spoke in…" description: "\"“In her usual manner, Merkel spoke in German. It is worth pointing out, however, that before the translator had an opportunity to convert her statement..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fcd/claudia-clark-61131_american-history_in-her-usual-manner-merkel-spoke-in-germ_2596018.jpg" --- # In her usual manner, Merkel spoke in German. It is worth… ![“In her usual manner, Merkel spoke in German. It is worth pointing out, however, that before the translator had an opportunity to convert her statements to English, Obama gave the chancellor and the press a big smile, saying, ‘I think what she said was good. I’m teasing.’ The laughter in the room…” quote by Claudia Clark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fcd/claudia-clark-61131_american-history_in-her-usual-manner-merkel-spoke-in-germ_2596018.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fcd/claudia-clark-61131_american-history_in-her-usual-manner-merkel-spoke-in-germ_2596018.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fcd/claudia-clark-61131_american-history_in-her-usual-manner-merkel-spoke-in-germ_2596018.jpg) > ““In her usual manner, Merkel spoke in German. It is worth pointing out, however, that before the translator had an opportunity to convert her statements to English, Obama gave the chancellor and the press a big smile, saying, ‘I think what she said was good. I’m teasing.’ The laughter in the room drowned out the sounds of the cameras clicking and flashing, with Merkel’s giggle and smile among the loudest.”” [Claudia Clark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claudia-clark/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The anecdote shows how humor and light‑heartedness can defuse tension and shift focus from language barriers to shared moments. **In simple terms:** Humor eases tension and creates connection. Key Takeaway Use humor to bridge cultural or linguistic gaps. Themes communication humor politics cross‑cultural interaction Mood light‑hearted empathetic Type anecdotal observational When to use this quote - international summits - media interviews - diplomatic meetings - public speaking Key Concepts social dynamics soft power interpersonal rapport Questions to Reflect On - How can humor be used responsibly in diplomacy? - When does humor risk undermining seriousness? A Different Perspective Humor may be misread or seem insincere if not genuine. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [American history](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/american-history/) [Diplomacy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/diplomacy/) [European history](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/european-history/) [History](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/history/) [Literary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/literary/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Relationships](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/relationships/) [Speeches](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/speeches/) [Women in politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/women-in-politics/) ## Related quotes > [My grandparents were born in England but spoke German and had a German name.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-stein/my-grandparents-were-born-in-england-but-spoke-german-and-had-a/) [Rick Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-stein/) > [“His voice, when he spoke German, especially with that commanding tone, took on a sharp, resonant quality. Hearing it gave Lucille the same pleasure…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ir-ne-n-mirovsky/his-voice-when-he-spoke-german-especially-with-that-commanding-tone/) [Irène Némirovsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ir-ne-n-mirovsky/) > [“At one point, approximately halfway through her remarks, Merkel stated in German something about ‘being able to greet the president of the United States…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claudia-clark/at-one-point-approximately-halfway-through-her-remarks-merkel-stated/) [Claudia Clark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claudia-clark/) > [“Then, in an unusual moment, she grew emotional, which left little doubt about the level of profound respect and admiration Merkel had for her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claudia-clark/then-in-an-unusual-moment-she-grew-emotional-which-left-little-doubt/) [Claudia Clark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claudia-clark/) > [We definitely need more women in politics. We don't want women in their late teens or early twenties who are interested in politics to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liz-kendall/we-definitely-need-more-women-in-politics-we-don-t-want-women-in/) [Liz Kendall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liz-kendall/) > [The odds are stacked heavily against women in politics. They are up against strong, entrenched and largely patriarchal lobbies in political parties.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nagma/the-odds-are-stacked-heavily-against-women-in-politics-they-are-up/) [Nagma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nagma/) > [“Destroying the joint means building a new system in which it is not OK to allow people to be marginalised, exploited and discriminated against,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-milne/destroying-the-joint-means-building-a-new-system-in-which-it-is-not/) [Christine Milne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-milne/) > [Many women in politics say they had very few, if any, female role models.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dana-bash/many-women-in-politics-say-they-had-very-few-if-any-female-role-models/) [Dana Bash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dana-bash/) > [Margaret Thatcher was a pioneer, willingly or unwillingly, for the role of women in politics,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meryl-streep/margaret-thatcher-was-a-pioneer-willingly-or-unwillingly-for-the-role/) [Meryl Streep](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meryl-streep/) > [As a young woman in politics, it also gives me great pleasure to see additional female cabinet representation here today. You know, these are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-rempel/as-a-young-woman-in-politics-it-also-gives-me-great-pleasure-to-see/) [Michelle Rempel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-rempel/) > [“a mantra she attributed to Eleanor Roosevelt: women in politics, she said, “need to develop skin as tough as a rhinoceros hide.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-leibovich/a-mantra-she-attributed-to-eleanor-roosevelt-women-in-politics-she/) [Mark Leibovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-leibovich/) > [“I shall not vote for Sen. Obama and it will not be because he—like me and like all of us—carries African genes. And I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/i-shall-not-vote-for-sen-obama-and-it-will-not-be-because-he-like-me/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [The advancements that women have made are very threatening to men in the job place. There haven't been that many women in politics. If…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carly-simon/the-advancements-that-women-have-made-are-very-threatening-to-men-in/) [Carly Simon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carly-simon/) > [What fascinates me is that when we look at the history of women in politics, so frequently the women who get the farthest are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karyn-kusama/what-fascinates-me-is-that-when-we-look-at-the-history-of-women-in/) [Karyn Kusama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karyn-kusama/) > [“She bristled at this but hid her frustration behind a cool smile. “It’s inevitable, you know, women in politics.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ariel-lawhon/she-bristled-at-this-but-hid-her-frustration-behind-a-cool-smile-it-s/) [Ariel Lawhon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ariel-lawhon/) ## More by Claudia Clark > [“Let me make two remarks. First I concentrate on the task ahead for 2016. I’m quite busy with that—thank you very much. And I’m…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claudia-clark/let-me-make-two-remarks-first-i-concentrate-on-the-task-ahead-for/) [Claudia Clark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claudia-clark/) > [“Then, in an unusual moment, she grew emotional, which left little doubt about the level of profound respect and admiration Merkel had for her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claudia-clark/then-in-an-unusual-moment-she-grew-emotional-which-left-little-doubt/) [Claudia Clark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claudia-clark/) > [“As she had done when she introduced the US president in Berlin, she addressed him publicly with the informal du for the first time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claudia-clark/as-she-had-done-when-she-introduced-the-us-president-in-berlin-she/) [Claudia Clark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claudia-clark/) > [“At one point, approximately halfway through her remarks, Merkel stated in German something about ‘being able to greet the president of the United States…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claudia-clark/at-one-point-approximately-halfway-through-her-remarks-merkel-stated/) [Claudia Clark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claudia-clark/) [Explore all 5 Claudia Clark quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claudia-clark/) ## More American history quotes > [Adam Clayton Powell's entire political career has to be looked at in the entire context of the American history and the history of, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/adam-clayton-powell-s-entire-political-career-has-to-be-looked-at-in/) [Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/) > [Don't fire until you see the whites of their eyes!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-h-prescott/don-t-fire-until-you-see-the-whites-of-their-eyes/) [William H. Prescott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-h-prescott/) > [“In December of 2007 human bones including skulls, which have been radiocarbon dated back to between 1304 and 1424, were found in a museum…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/captain-hank-bracker-seawater-one/in-december-of-2007-human-bones-including-skulls-which-have-been/) Captain Hank Bracker, "Seawater One > [John Lane has long been recognized as one of the South's finest poets and memoirists. This debut establishes him as one of our finest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-rash/john-lane-has-long-been-recognized-as-one-of-the-south-s-finest-poets/) [Ron Rash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-rash/) > [No man-made structure in all of American history has been hated so much, by so many, for so long, with such good reason, as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-abbey/no-man-made-structure-in-all-of-american-history-has-been-hated-so/) [Edward Abbey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-abbey/) > [The problem that we have is that most Americans don't even study American history, let alone Pinochet, Mussolini, Hitler, Stalin and all these guys.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/van-jones/the-problem-that-we-have-is-that-most-americans-don-t-even-study/) [Van Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/van-jones/) > [We must not falsely teach American history in our schools. We have a law requiring state textbook oversight to guard against frauds like Zinn,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-daniels/we-must-not-falsely-teach-american-history-in-our-schools-we-have-a/) [Mitch Daniels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-daniels/) > [The only thing we have to fear is fear itself-and possibly teh bogey man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-paulsen/the-only-thing-we-have-to-fear-is-fear-itself-and-possibly-teh-bogey/) [Pat Paulsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-paulsen/) > [“Thanks in part to the rapid mechanization of cotton production in the early 1940s, which ultimately threw millions of farm laborers out of work,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-t-patterson/thanks-in-part-to-the-rapid-mechanization-of-cotton-production-in-the/) [James T. Patterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-t-patterson/) > [“dark say: berthenia belle never forget the tongue hid name”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cathleen-margaret/dark-say-berthenia-belle-never-forget-the-tongue-hid-name/) [Cathleen Margaret](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cathleen-margaret/) > [Throughout American history many of our social gains and much of our progress toward democracy were made possible by the active intervention of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-washington/throughout-american-history-many-of-our-social-gains-and-much-of-our/) [Harold Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-washington/) > [Modern Democrats aren't the first political party to abuse power - far from it. Obama isn'€™t the first president to abuse executive power -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-harsanyi/modern-democrats-aren-t-the-first-political-party-to-abuse-power-far/) [David Harsanyi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-harsanyi/) > [Medicare and Social Security have created the healthiest and most financially secure generation of senior citizens in American history.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-walsh/medicare-and-social-security-have-created-the-healthiest-and-most/) [Jim Walsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-walsh/) > [The school curriculum today, particularly American history, is a shame.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/the-school-curriculum-today-particularly-american-history-is-a-shame/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [“I used to walk out, at night, to the breakwater which divides the end of the harbor form the broad moor of the salt…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-doty/i-used-to-walk-out-at-night-to-the-breakwater-which-divides-the-end/) [Mark Doty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-doty/) [Browse all 685 American history quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/american-history/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“In her usual manner, Merkel spoke in German. It is worth pointing out, however, that before the translator had an opportunity to convert her statements to English, Obama gave the chancellor and the press a big smile, saying, ‘I think what she said was good. I’m teasing.’ The laughter in the room drowned out the sounds of the cameras clicking and flashing, with Merkel’s giggle and smile among the loudest.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Claudia Clark" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claudia-clark/in-her-usual-manner-merkel-spoke-in-german-it-is-worth-pointing-out/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "American history" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claudia-clark/in-her-usual-manner-merkel-spoke-in-german-it-is-worth-pointing-out/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fcd/claudia-clark-61131_american-history_in-her-usual-manner-merkel-spoke-in-germ_2596018.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fcd/claudia-clark-61131_american-history_in-her-usual-manner-merkel-spoke-in-germ_2596018.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fcd/claudia-clark-61131_american-history_in-her-usual-manner-merkel-spoke-in-germ_2596018.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“In her usual manner, Merkel spoke in German. It is worth pointing out, however, that before the translator…” — Claudia Clark", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Claudia Clark", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claudia-clark/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“In her usual manner, Merkel spoke...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claudia-clark/in-her-usual-manner-merkel-spoke-in-german-it-is-worth-pointing-out/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claudia-clark/in-her-usual-manner-merkel-spoke-in-german-it-is-worth-pointing-out/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```