---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Angela Merkel did the right thing. Her…"
description: "\"Angela Merkel did the right thing. Her decision and the extraordinary willingness of the German people to take in refugees conveyed an image of Germany..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/665/jean-claude-juncker-3277_decision_angela-merkel-did-the-right-thing-her-de_2179516.png"
---

#  Angela Merkel did the right thing. Her decision and the…

![“Angela Merkel did the right thing. Her decision and the extraordinary willingness of the German people to take in refugees conveyed an image of Germany that is still having positive repercussions today. Unfortunately, people in Germany are no longer seeing that.” quote by Jean-Claude Juncker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/665/jean-claude-juncker-3277_decision_angela-merkel-did-the-right-thing-her-de_2179516.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/665/jean-claude-juncker-3277_decision_angela-merkel-did-the-right-thing-her-de_2179516.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/665/jean-claude-juncker-3277_decision_angela-merkel-did-the-right-thing-her-de_2179516.png)

> “Angela Merkel did the right thing. Her decision and the extraordinary willingness of the German people to take in refugees conveyed an image of Germany that is still having positive repercussions today. Unfortunately, people in Germany are no longer seeing that.”

[Jean-Claude Juncker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-claude-juncker/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Germany’s welcoming of refugees boosted its image, but public support is fading.

**In simple terms:** Welcoming refugees improved Germany’s reputation, now waning.

Key Takeaway

Renew public dialogue on refugee benefits.

Themes

immigration public opinion politics

Mood

concerned hopeful

Type

political social

When to use this quote

- policy debate
- community integration
- media coverage
- political campaigns

Key Concepts

humanitarianism social cohesion

Questions to Reflect On

- How can societies sustain empathy?
- What policies reinforce positive perceptions?

A Different Perspective

Opposition narratives can erode goodwill despite positive outcomes.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Angela Merkel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/angela-merkel/) [Decision](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decision/) [Extraordinary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/extraordinary/) [German](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/german/) [Germany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/germany/) [Germany Having](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/germany-having-786526/) [Image Germany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/image-germany-4702606/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [People Germany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people-germany-1051930/) [People Refugees](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people-refugees-1174698/) [Refugee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/refugee/) [Right thing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/right-thing/) [Today](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/today/) [Willingness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/willingness/)

## Related quotes

> [My warning is: Be careful Angela Merkel. If you don't see the suffering that has been imposed on the rest of the European people,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marine-le-pen/my-warning-is-be-careful-angela-merkel-if-you-don-t-see-the-suffering/)

[Marine Le Pen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marine-le-pen/)

> [To imagine being in Germany having a home crowd is kind of silly, but we'll take it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/landon-donovan/to-imagine-being-in-germany-having-a-home-crowd-is-kind-of-silly-but/)

[Landon Donovan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/landon-donovan/)

> [Angela Merkel has been focused on the right things. She has focused on the interests of her citizens - and not just in a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-trudeau/angela-merkel-has-been-focused-on-the-right-things-she-has-focused-on/)

[Justin Trudeau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-trudeau/)

> [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/)

> [We have not always been in sync on every issue in terms of our core values, in terms of her integrity, her truthfulness, her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/we-have-not-always-been-in-sync-on-every-issue-in-terms-of-our-core/)

[Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/)

> [What I really value in Angela Merkel is that she has never tried to tap the brakes on my élan, my enthusiasm. She tells…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emmanuel-macron/what-i-really-value-in-angela-merkel-is-that-she-has-never-tried-to/)

[Emmanuel Macron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emmanuel-macron/)

> [I have great respect for Angela Merkel, even if we have a lot of differences.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emmanuel-macron/i-have-great-respect-for-angela-merkel-even-if-we-have-a-lot-of/)

[Emmanuel Macron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emmanuel-macron/)

> [Angela Merkel has been an extraordinary partner for me and for the United States throughout my presidency.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/angela-merkel-has-been-an-extraordinary-partner-for-me-and-for-the/)

[Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/)

> [I spoke with Gerhard Schröder about a lot of things, including foreign policy. Schröder knows how important European policy is to me personally. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-schulz/i-spoke-with-gerhard-schr-der-about-a-lot-of-things-including-foreign/)

[Martin Schulz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-schulz/)

> [Angela Merkel and the CDU are not our political adversaries. The CDU and the CSU are sister parties.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horst-seehofer/angela-merkel-and-the-cdu-are-not-our-political-adversaries-the-cdu/)

[Horst Seehofer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horst-seehofer/)

> [“Angela Merkel in Private is even more miserable than she looks in Public.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nigel-farage/angela-merkel-in-private-is-even-more-miserable-than-she-looks-in/)

[Nigel Farage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nigel-farage/)

> [I trust Angela Merkel, she is a very open person. She is also subject to certain constraints and limitations. But she is honestly trying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vladimir-putin/i-trust-angela-merkel-she-is-a-very-open-person-she-is-also-subject/)

[Vladimir Putin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vladimir-putin/)

> [I have respect for leaders who defend the interests of their countries. Angela Merkel policies are positive for Germany, but they are unfortunately harmful…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marine-le-pen/i-have-respect-for-leaders-who-defend-the-interests-of-their/)

[Marine Le Pen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marine-le-pen/)

> [I am glad that Angela Merkel is the German Chancellor, as she tries to combine a sense of responsibility with morality and values. Because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-tusk/i-am-glad-that-angela-merkel-is-the-german-chancellor-as-she-tries-to/)

[Donald Tusk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-tusk/)

> [I have extremely friendly feelings for German chancellor. I think Angela Merkel is very courageous, and that is one reason I have such great…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emmanuel-macron/i-have-extremely-friendly-feelings-for-german-chancellor-i-think/)

[Emmanuel Macron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emmanuel-macron/)

## More by Jean-Claude Juncker

> [ I don't think in national categories. For me it \[policy\] is about concepts and substance. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-claude-juncker/i-don-t-think-in-national-categories-for-me-it-policy-is-about/)

[Jean-Claude Juncker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-claude-juncker/)

> [Germany will continue to play a central - perhaps even a more important - role in the European Union. I think that we will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-claude-juncker/germany-will-continue-to-play-a-central-perhaps-even-a-more-important/)

[Jean-Claude Juncker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-claude-juncker/)

> [I am for it - not to make a threat, but to make clear that decisions that have been made are applicable law, even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-claude-juncker/i-am-for-it-not-to-make-a-threat-but-to-make-clear-that-decisions/)

[Jean-Claude Juncker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-claude-juncker/)

> [With their charm and legendary sense of humor, the British directly or indirectly paved the way for a large number of European compromises.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-claude-juncker/with-their-charm-and-legendary-sense-of-humor-the-british-directly-or/)

[Jean-Claude Juncker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-claude-juncker/)

> [I said in my inaugural address that I am not the Council's secretary, nor am I the Parliament's lackey. That can sometimes lead to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-claude-juncker/i-said-in-my-inaugural-address-that-i-am-not-the-council-s-secretary/)

[Jean-Claude Juncker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-claude-juncker/)

> [I have a plan. It entails leading to a fair deal and relationship with the British. We will be reasonable, but we will also…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-claude-juncker/i-have-a-plan-it-entails-leading-to-a-fair-deal-and-relationship-with/)

[Jean-Claude Juncker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-claude-juncker/)

> [I am in favor of the European institutions being led for the next two-and-a-half years as they have been thus far. We need stability.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-claude-juncker/i-am-in-favor-of-the-european-institutions-being-led-for-the-next-two/)

[Jean-Claude Juncker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-claude-juncker/)

> [I was never presented with the details as far as the collective bargaining system is Greece. I am in favor of a normal system…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-claude-juncker/i-was-never-presented-with-the-details-as-far-as-the-collective/)

[Jean-Claude Juncker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-claude-juncker/)

> [God understands more about the financial markets than many who write about them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-claude-juncker/god-understands-more-about-the-financial-markets-than-many-who-write/)

[Jean-Claude Juncker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-claude-juncker/)

> [The outcome of the referendum does not affect those of my officials who have British nationality, since they work for Europe and not for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-claude-juncker/the-outcome-of-the-referendum-does-not-affect-those-of-my-officials/)

[Jean-Claude Juncker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-claude-juncker/)

> [I assumed office to bring the EU to a point from which there is no going back. Instead, I am having to unwind the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-claude-juncker/i-assumed-office-to-bring-the-eu-to-a-point-from-which-there-is-no/)

[Jean-Claude Juncker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-claude-juncker/)

> [I notice with a certain sense of regret that far too many Europeans are returning to a regional and national mindset.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-claude-juncker/i-notice-with-a-certain-sense-of-regret-that-far-too-many-europeans/)

[Jean-Claude Juncker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-claude-juncker/)

> [ My father was a steel worker and Martin's \[Schulz\] grandfather was a miner in Saarland. In these occupations, there is a particular awareness of… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-claude-juncker/my-father-was-a-steel-worker-and-martin-s-schulz-grandfather-was-a/)

[Jean-Claude Juncker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-claude-juncker/)

> [I completely agree with Helmut Kohl. I am not an advocate of the "United States of Europe," nor am I an integration fanatic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-claude-juncker/i-completely-agree-with-helmut-kohl-i-am-not-an-advocate-of-the/)

[Jean-Claude Juncker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-claude-juncker/)

> [How will the exit affect thousands of British pensioners living in Portugal or Spain who will lose their access to the welfare and health…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-claude-juncker/how-will-the-exit-affect-thousands-of-british-pensioners-living-in/)

[Jean-Claude Juncker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-claude-juncker/)

[Explore all 135 Jean-Claude Juncker quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-claude-juncker/)

## More Decision quotes

> [Making the right decision is hard,telling someone your decision is even harder.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhishek-tiwari/making-the-right-decision-is-hard-telling-someone-your-decision-is/)

[Abhishek Tiwari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhishek-tiwari/)

> [It is said that history turns on small hinges. A human career, too, results from an accumulating series of decisions about large and small…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-vincent-peale/it-is-said-that-history-turns-on-small-hinges-a-human-career-too/)

[Norman Vincent Peale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-vincent-peale/)

> [Elections belong to the people. It's their decision. If they decide to turn their back on the fire and burn their behinds, then they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/elections-belong-to-the-people-it-s-their-decision-if-they-decide-to/)

[Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/)

> [Bush reiterated his stand to conservatives opposing his decision on stem cell research. He said today he believes life begins at conception and ends…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/bush-reiterated-his-stand-to-conservatives-opposing-his-decision-on/)

[Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/)

> [“How can you make an informed decision about whether to save the world if you never leave your tiny part of it?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaun-david-hutchinson/how-can-you-make-an-informed-decision-about-whether-to-save-the-world/)

[Shaun David Hutchinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaun-david-hutchinson/)

> [Love is the foundation from which your decisions about your life should be made.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/love-is-the-foundation-from-which-your-decisions-about-your-life/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Indecision becomes decision with time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/indecision-becomes-decision-with-time/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [If you think of people as making decisions actively, every time we think about the cup of coffee, we say, "How much will I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-ariely/if-you-think-of-people-as-making-decisions-actively-every-time-we/)

[Dan Ariely](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-ariely/)

> [It was a conscious decision on my part to take up fewer films. And if you're not seen that often on screen, nobody calls…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-lever/it-was-a-conscious-decision-on-my-part-to-take-up-fewer-films-and-if/)

[Johnny Lever](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-lever/)

> [Decision is a risk rooted in the courage of being free.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-tillich/decision-is-a-risk-rooted-in-the-courage-of-being-free/)

[Paul Tillich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-tillich/)

> [I never think of things rationally or intellectually. I swear, every single decision I make is just instinct and my instincts tend to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neill-blomkamp/i-never-think-of-things-rationally-or-intellectually-i-swear-every/)

[Neill Blomkamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neill-blomkamp/)

> [“it is either you happen to life or life happens to you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sesan-kareem/it-is-either-you-happen-to-life-or-life-happens-to-you/)

[Sesan Kareem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sesan-kareem/)

> [How strange that something so simple could have been instrumental in my decision to ruin one of my most relationships and friendships, and damage…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/how-strange-that-something-so-simple-could-have-been-instrumental-in/)

[Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/)

> [I am encouraged President Obama now says he will fulfill his constitutional obligation to seek authorization for any potential military action in Syria. This…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rand-paul/i-am-encouraged-president-obama-now-says-he-will-fulfill-his/)

[Rand Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rand-paul/)

> [In New York, you are constantly faced with this very urgent decision that you have to make, about every twenty minutes...you have to decide,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-cross/in-new-york-you-are-constantly-faced-with-this-very-urgent-decision/)

[David Cross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-cross/)

[Browse all 9,145 Decision quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decision/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "Angela Merkel did the right thing. Her decision and the extraordinary willingness of the German people to take in refugees conveyed an image of Germany that is still having positive repercussions today. Unfortunately, people in Germany are no longer seeing that.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Jean-Claude Juncker"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-claude-juncker/angela-merkel-did-the-right-thing-her-decision-and-the-extraordinary/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Decision"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-claude-juncker/angela-merkel-did-the-right-thing-her-decision-and-the-extraordinary/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/665/jean-claude-juncker-3277_decision_angela-merkel-did-the-right-thing-her-de_2179516.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/665/jean-claude-juncker-3277_decision_angela-merkel-did-the-right-thing-her-de_2179516.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/665/jean-claude-juncker-3277_decision_angela-merkel-did-the-right-thing-her-de_2179516.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Angela Merkel did the right thing. Her decision and the extraordinary willingness of the German people to…” — Jean-Claude Juncker",
                "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": "Jean-Claude Juncker",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-claude-juncker/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Angela Merkel did the right thing....",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-claude-juncker/angela-merkel-did-the-right-thing-her-decision-and-the-extraordinary/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-claude-juncker/angela-merkel-did-the-right-thing-her-decision-and-the-extraordinary/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
