Hess was slightly off balance for as long as I can recall. Why the Fuhrer kept him on as head of the party was a mystery to most people, but to me I always felt it was Hitler's loyalty to his old friends. I remember Hess had a bright idea once in treating me for some neuralgia that I had at the time. It was in 1936 or so. Anyway, one day lots of pots and pans arrived of all different sizes. I didn't know what they were for. One was for soaking my arm, another my forearm, another size for my leg, my thing, and so on. I called him up and asked him what he had sent me so many pots for - did he think I wanted to start an aquarium? But Hess explained that I told him I had neuralgia and that this was the treatment for it. I thanked him over the telephone and laughed for days.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- An anecdote about Hess's eccentric behavior and the speaker's amusement.
- In plain terms
- Hess sent pots to treat my arm pain which seemed strange but funny.
- What can you take from it?
- Unconventional advice often comes from trusted friends.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- What defines a friendship?
- How do we handle unusual advice?
Another view
Anecdotes may not reflect broader truth.
More from Rudolf Hess
I saw Hess's pendulum and he used it. I never paid any attention to his strange ideas. He was quiet and bothered nobody. I knew a great surgeon who believed in…
Permalink to quote #14 I was suspicious for several reasons... after all, Hess who had been held in Spandau for almost 30 years was by then 93-years-old and fragile. I doubted he had…
Permalink to quote #16 I was the only man he trusted.
Permalink to quote #13
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