Politics is the art of the possible.

Otto von Bismarck (1815–1898), Prussia’s minister-president and later the first chancellor of the German Empire, became famous for a hard-headed, pragmatic style of statecraft often labeled Realpolitik. The maxim “Politics is the art of the possible” is widely associated with him as a summary of his approach: pursuing achievable objectives through negotiation, timing, and power calculations rather than ideological purity. It fits the political environment in which Bismarck operated—constitutional conflict in Prussia, shifting European alliances, and the step-by-step unification of Germany—where success often depended on accepting constraints and exploiting opportunities rather than insisting on ideal outcomes.

The saying frames politics less as moral philosophy and more as practical craft. “The possible” implies limits set by institutions, public opinion, resources, and international realities; effective leaders must work within those constraints to secure incremental gains. The phrase also suggests compromise: political outcomes are rarely perfect, but they can be made workable. In Bismarck’s case, the idea aligns with his willingness to use flexible means—coalitions, concessions, and calculated risks—to reach strategic ends. As a general principle, it cautions against utopian programs detached from feasibility, while also implying that political skill lies in expanding what is possible through persuasion and power.

1) "Politics is the art of the possible, the attainable—the art of the next best."
2) "Politics is the art of the possible, not the art of the ideal."