--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When I was elected to head the German…" description: "\"When I was elected to head the German government, I was fortunate enough to find a partner in Francois Mitterrand.\" — Helmut Kohl" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/286/helmut-kohl-13374_enough_when-i-was-elected-to-head-the-german-go_2109697.jpg" --- # When I was elected to head the German government, I was… ![“When I was elected to head the German government, I was fortunate enough to find a partner in Francois Mitterrand.” quote by Helmut Kohl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/286/helmut-kohl-13374_enough_when-i-was-elected-to-head-the-german-go_2109697.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/286/helmut-kohl-13374_enough_when-i-was-elected-to-head-the-german-go_2109697.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/286/helmut-kohl-13374_enough_when-i-was-elected-to-head-the-german-go_2109697.jpg) > “When I was elected to head the German government, I was fortunate enough to find a partner in Francois Mitterrand.” [Helmut Kohl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helmut-kohl/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Forming a coalition with a former political rival can create stable governance despite ideological differences. **In simple terms:** Partnering with a rival can bring stability. Key Takeaway Seek common ground for effective leadership. Themes politics coalition building leadership compromise history Mood strategic pragmatic Type political historical When to use this quote - government formation - international diplomacy - policy drafting Key Concepts Strategic alliances bipartisan cooperation policy negotiation Questions to Reflect On - What compromises are acceptable? - How to maintain identity in a coalition? A Different Perspective Compromise may dilute core policies. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) ## Related quotes > [Everyone says Francois Mitterrand had huge charisma. But before he was president they used to call him badly dressed, old, archaic and say he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-hollande/everyone-says-francois-mitterrand-had-huge-charisma-but-before-he-was/) [Francois Hollande](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-hollande/) > [I have given myself one objective, to be the long-awaited successor to Francois Mitterrand.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-hollande/i-have-given-myself-one-objective-to-be-the-long-awaited-successor-to/) [Francois Hollande](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-hollande/) > [Perhaps I am following in the footsteps of François Mitterrand, who really did want to shape Europe. My predecessors, by contrast, thought it was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emmanuel-macron/perhaps-i-am-following-in-the-footsteps-of-fran-ois-mitterrand-who/) [Emmanuel Macron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emmanuel-macron/) > [But Maastricht was not the end of history. It was a first step towards a Europe of growth, of employment, a social Europe. That…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurent-fabius/but-maastricht-was-not-the-end-of-history-it-was-a-first-step-towards/) [Laurent Fabius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurent-fabius/) > [I think the career of President Mitterrand, which was rather sensational when it was revealed, is probably very typical.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-o-paxton/i-think-the-career-of-president-mitterrand-which-was-rather/) [Robert O. Paxton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-o-paxton/) > [François Mitterrand was a student of architecture, he had done a lot of research before he called me. He said, "You did something special…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i-m-pei/fran-ois-mitterrand-was-a-student-of-architecture-he-had-done-a-lot/) [I. M. Pei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/i-m-pei/) > [Mitterrand had a sense for symbols, and he was the first Socialist president since 1958. He wanted to show that there is historical continuity,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-hollande/mitterrand-had-a-sense-for-symbols-and-he-was-the-first-socialist/) [Francois Hollande](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-hollande/) > [“The constitution which emerged from the Assembly after six months of debate—it was passed on July 31, 1919, and ratified by the President on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-constitution-which-emerged-from-the-assembly-after-six-months-of/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The German government has taken energetic measures against the propagation of the defective, the mentally diseased, and the criminal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexis-carrel/the-german-government-has-taken-energetic-measures-against-the/) [Alexis Carrel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexis-carrel/) > [The Government of the United States would be constrained to hold the Imperial German government to a strict accountability for such acts of their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woodrow-wilson/the-government-of-the-united-states-would-be-constrained-to-hold-the/) [Woodrow Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woodrow-wilson/) > [All Germany was in turmoil. Revolutionaries seized power in the cities of Munich, Hanover and Cologne. One regional German government after another was toppled…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-cross-giblin/all-germany-was-in-turmoil-revolutionaries-seized-power-in-the-cities/) James Cross Giblin > [The Imperial German Government will not expect the Government of the United States to omit any word or any act necessary to the performance…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-jennings-bryan/the-imperial-german-government-will-not-expect-the-government-of-the/) [William Jennings Bryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-jennings-bryan/) > [We have, thank God, a very good relationship with the German government. There were resentments, but they've been resolved. Germany is the strongest player…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sebastian-kurz/we-have-thank-god-a-very-good-relationship-with-the-german-government/) [Sebastian Kurz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sebastian-kurz/) > [I had furthermore spoken on the assumption that Russia would mobilize, whereas the assumption of the German Government had hitherto been, officially, that Serbia…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-had-furthermore-spoken-on-the-assumption-that-russia-would-mobilize/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Had Schleicher been successful in his leadership of the German government at the end of 1932, he would probably have headed a very moderate,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-g-payne/had-schleicher-been-successful-in-his-leadership-of-the-german/) Stanley G. Payne ## More by Helmut Kohl > [Russia is Germany's most important neighbor in the East, and it will remain so.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helmut-kohl/russia-is-germany-s-most-important-neighbor-in-the-east-and-it-will/) [Helmut Kohl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helmut-kohl/) > [I experienced Nazism as a child. Like many of my generation, I was motivated by the desire to prevent another war at any price.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helmut-kohl/i-experienced-nazism-as-a-child-like-many-of-my-generation-i-was/) [Helmut Kohl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helmut-kohl/) > [Everybody should know that Germany will not go it alone: there will be no restless Reich.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helmut-kohl/everybody-should-know-that-germany-will-not-go-it-alone-there-will-be/) [Helmut Kohl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helmut-kohl/) > [I ask myself where Germany stands today and where it wants to go.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helmut-kohl/i-ask-myself-where-germany-stands-today-and-where-it-wants-to-go/) [Helmut Kohl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helmut-kohl/) > [Peace must be more than the absence of war.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helmut-kohl/peace-must-be-more-than-the-absence-of-war/) [Helmut Kohl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helmut-kohl/) > [The future will belong to the Germans... ...when we build the House of Europe. In the next two years, we will make the process…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helmut-kohl/the-future-will-belong-to-the-germans-when-we-build-the-house-of/) [Helmut Kohl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helmut-kohl/) > [George Bush was for me the most important ally on the road to German unity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helmut-kohl/george-bush-was-for-me-the-most-important-ally-on-the-road-to-german/) [Helmut Kohl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helmut-kohl/) > [I have every reason, despite the resentment and exasperation, to be proud. I have nothing better to be proud of than being proud of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helmut-kohl/i-have-every-reason-despite-the-resentment-and-exasperation-to-be/) [Helmut Kohl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helmut-kohl/) > [Two decisions have damaged the stability both of the euro and of Europe: the premature admission of Greece to the euro area and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helmut-kohl/two-decisions-have-damaged-the-stability-both-of-the-euro-and-of/) [Helmut Kohl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helmut-kohl/) > [Gorbachev's legacy is that he called time on communism, partially against his will, but in fact, he finished it off. Without violence. Without bloodshed.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helmut-kohl/gorbachev-s-legacy-is-that-he-called-time-on-communism-partially/) [Helmut Kohl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helmut-kohl/) > [Political life is like this - elections go back and forth. Representative democracy can only be successful if one sits down and says, 'That's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helmut-kohl/political-life-is-like-this-elections-go-back-and-forth/) [Helmut Kohl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helmut-kohl/) > [I have been underestimated for decades. I've done very well that way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helmut-kohl/i-have-been-underestimated-for-decades-i-ve-done-very-well-that-way/) [Helmut Kohl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helmut-kohl/) > [I knew that I could never win a referendum in Germany. We would have lost a referendum on the introduction of the euro. That's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helmut-kohl/i-knew-that-i-could-never-win-a-referendum-in-germany-we-would-have/) [Helmut Kohl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helmut-kohl/) > [Europe has, to put it mildly, been in a poor state since the transition to the 21st century. This is down to national issues,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helmut-kohl/europe-has-to-put-it-mildly-been-in-a-poor-state-since-the-transition/) [Helmut Kohl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helmut-kohl/) > [If one has no compass, when one doesn't know where one stands and where one wants to go, one can deduce that one has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helmut-kohl/if-one-has-no-compass-when-one-doesn-t-know-where-one-stands-and/) [Helmut Kohl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helmut-kohl/) [Explore all 50 Helmut Kohl quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helmut-kohl/) ## More Enough quotes > [I guess at it's very core love is connection that just makes so much sense you wonder how you used to live before you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-stone/i-guess-at-it-s-very-core-love-is-connection-that-just-makes-so-much/) [Benjamin Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-stone/) > [Failures happen. You can't cry over them. You just take it in your stride because you know that you have done your best... 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I don't need to see it through to the end. When it actually happens,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-sedaris/sometimes-it-s-just-enough-for-me-to-have-the-idea-i-don-t-need-to/) [Amy Sedaris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-sedaris/) > [The vast majority of organizations today have more than enough intelligence, experience and knowledge to be successful. What they lack is organizational health.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-lencioni/the-vast-majority-of-organizations-today-have-more-than-enough/) [Patrick Lencioni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-lencioni/) > [I'm an actor, so I'm never going to feel like I've done enough.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/italia-ricci/i-m-an-actor-so-i-m-never-going-to-feel-like-i-ve-done-enough/) [Italia Ricci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/italia-ricci/) > [I've been to Manchester enough to know it's a real place. It's not Factory Records and the Smiths bicycling around. I get it. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-murphy/i-ve-been-to-manchester-enough-to-know-it-s-a-real-place-it-s-not/) [James Murphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-murphy/) > [Lutherans, whose arguments and mistakes will not be difficult to contest or discover, do not want to attribute any value to works, and they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-servetus/lutherans-whose-arguments-and-mistakes-will-not-be-difficult-to/) [Michael Servetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-servetus/) > [Sam dropped me off. When she was too far away to see me, I started to cry again. Because she was my friend again.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-chbosky/sam-dropped-me-off-when-she-was-too-far-away-to-see-me-i-started-to/) [Stephen Chbosky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-chbosky/) > [I just worried about my weight. Worried about my appearance and thought I wan't pretty enough to be a pop star. It was very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-durham/i-just-worried-about-my-weight-worried-about-my-appearance-and/) [Judith Durham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-durham/) > [I don't want this to be a distraction. This has been distracting enough. I'm not going to rehash this going forward. 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