Thou hast produced mighty monarchs, of whom thou art not unworthy,
For the obedient alone make him who governs them great.
But, O Germany, try if thou for thy rulers canst make it
Harder as kings to be great,--easier, though, to be men!
Back to Friedrich von Schiller
Get a free collection of Classic Poetry ↓
To be able to leave a comment here you must be registered. Log in or Sign up.
Comments1Really struck by the line, "For the obedient alone make him who governs them great." It's a powerful reminder to hold leaders accountable. Though the langauge is a bit old-fashioned, the message still rings true today. Give 'em a hard time, I say!