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'Mit Verlaub Herr Prasident, Sie sind ein Arschloch.' ('With respect, Mr President, you are an asshole') - interjection, dedicated to German Bundestag vice president Richard Stucklen, after he excluded Jurgen Reents because he described Helmut Kohl as 'von Flick freigekauft' (bought out by Flick), 18. October 1984; (S. Krause-Burger: 'Joschka Fischer. Der Marsch durch die Illusionen.')

Joschka Fischer#2

PoliticsLanguageParliamentWar

About this quote

What does it mean?
Fischer uses direct language to criticize a political peer during a parliamentary session.
In plain terms
Fischer openly insulted a colleague in parliament.
What can you take from it?
Direct criticism can be used in formal political settings.

Where it applies

  • parliament
  • political debate
  • confrontation

Putting it to work

  • address grievances
  • challenge peers
  • debate directly

Questions to consider

  • Is directness always effective?
  • How should conflicts be handled?

Another view

Direct insults may damage professional relationships.

More from Joschka Fischer

  1. 'Stalin was a guy like we are, not only that he considered himself a revolutionary and lived like one, but he was a character in the truest sense of the word .…

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  2. 'Excuse me, I am not convinced.' (addressing U.S. Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld with regard to the Iraq War at the 39th Security Conference in Munich)

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  3. 'Ich sehe uns schon mit Dreadlocks da sitzen und eine riesige Tute rauchen, im Hintergrund Reggae-Music und vor uns ein dampfendes Bier. Im Ernst: Wie stellen …

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