Lashing out at the Prussian middle class after he took office in 1862, Bismarck declared that governance would proceed without parliament. He famously said that the big questions of the day could not be addressed by speeches and resolutions, but only by "______ and ______."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blood_and_Iron_(speech)
To find the missing words in Bismarck's famous statement, let's first understand the historical context. In 1862, Otto von Bismarck became the prime minister of Prussia, which was part of a larger German Confederation. Bismarck sought to strengthen the power of the monarchy and establish a strong and unified German state under Prussian dominance.
To complete the statement, we need to identify what Bismarck believed was necessary to address the big questions of the day instead of relying on speeches and resolutions.
The missing words in Bismarck's statement are "blood and iron." Bismarck famously said, "The great questions of the day will not be settled by speeches and resolutions of majorities but by blood and iron." This statement reflects his belief in the importance of decisive action and military strength in achieving political goals.
By using the terms "blood," Bismarck emphasized the willingness to engage in war and conflict if necessary to achieve his objectives. Similarly, the term "iron" symbolizes the strength and power of both the military and industrial sectors.
By quoting this statement, Bismarck was emphasizing his determination to pursue his goals through pragmatic and forceful means, without relying on the traditional parliamentary system. This marked a significant departure from the established political norms of the time and signaled Bismarck's intent to pursue a policy of Realpolitik (realistic politics).