Motto and Maxim
The maxim of Rau was “to reconcile, not divide”.
As his personal motto, Rau adopted the Confessing Church dictum “teneo, quia teneor” (I hold because I am held).
In his acceptance speech after his election, Rau claimed “A patriot I will be” because “a patriot is someone who loves his fatherland, a nationalist is someone who despises the fatherlands of the others”. The quote can be attributed to the French writer Romain Gary.
Read more about this topic: Johannes Rau
Famous quotes containing the words motto and/or maxim:
“My motto is: “Lord I disbelieve—help thou my unbelief.””
—E.M. (Edward Morgan)
“In controlling men:
If at first you don’t succeed,
Why, cry, cry, again.”
—Unknown. A Maxim Revised (l. 3–4)