Politics is an inexact science.

Attributed to Otto von Bismarck, the remark underscores a core feature of statecraft: political outcomes cannot be derived with the precision of mathematics or laboratory science. Decisions are made amid incomplete information, shifting alliances, public moods, and the unpredictable reactions of other powers. The line also fits Bismarck’s reputation as a pragmatic realist who distrusted abstract systems and preferred flexible tactics—treating politics as an art of judgment, timing, and compromise rather than a domain governed by fixed laws. In this sense, the quote cautions against overconfidence in ideological blueprints or technocratic certainty when dealing with human institutions.