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About this quote

What does it mean?
Bormann appeared unthreatening but secretly held high power as Hitler's key aide.
In plain terms
Bormann looked harmless but was actually a top Nazi leader.
What can you take from it?
Power often hides behind a modest facade.

Where it applies

  • court politics
  • corporate hierarchies

Putting it to work

  • scrutinize underlings
  • question appearances

Questions to consider

  • Who holds unseen power?
  • How do leaders hide?

Another view

Personal knowledge of his activities is admitted as lacking here.

More from Martin Bormann

  1. It is difficult to describe such a character. He was not highly educated but he was able and extremely industrious in technical office work. He was also extrem…

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  2. The powerful men under Hitler were already jealously watching one another like so many pretenders to the throne. Quite early there were struggles for position …

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  3. I am firmly convinced that Bormann will show up - that either the Americans or the Russians have him in custody and will try to create a sensation, for news ef…

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