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He is a good fellow, but he always appears as if he will fall apart any minute. Sometimes, I have a hard time when he bores me in his remarks in court. That he did the Fuhrer's will and followed instructions is correct. He did more or less as I advised him during his defense, but he has no ability to spar with the prosecution. If I had been foreign minister I would be able to defend my actions, no matter what they had on me. But Ribbentrop is so weak and indecisive.

Joachim von Ribbentrop#18

PoliticsHistoryLeadershipDefenseLawObedienceWeakness

About this quote

What does it mean?
The speaker calls Ribbentrop weak and indecisive but acknowledges he followed orders.
In plain terms
Ribbentrop was weak and followed instructions but could not defend himself.
What can you take from it?
Obedience without strength limits effectiveness.

Where it applies

  • legal defense
  • historical review

Putting it to work

  • evaluate leadership traits
  • study historical trials

Questions to consider

  • Can obedience excuse poor leadership?
  • What traits matter in defense?

Another view

Following orders does not excuse responsibility.

More from Joachim von Ribbentrop

  1. I never thought much of Ribbentrop's abilities. As a foreign minister he was lacking in understanding and experience. I was against Hitler's choosing Ribbentro…

    Permalink to quote #17
  2. Need one comment on that fool? He is not a foreign minister but a blind adherent of Hitler. He is also personally disagreeable and vain.

    Permalink to quote #16
  3. He was interested mainly, I might say, solely in his personal standing with Hitler. He spent hours and days drafting letters of protest about Goebbels's interf…

    Permalink to quote #15

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