Erst denken, dann handeln. Literal translation: First think, then act. This saying emphasizes the importance of careful consideration before taking action, reflecting a preference for deliberate, well-timed decisions.
time
Sitzfleisch
The German concept of Sitzfleisch (Sitz, to sit + Fleisch, flesh) the ability to endure and persist patiently, especially through long or challenging situations – is often reflected in German cultural productions, including film. While not always the direct subject of a specific movie, this value is evident in films that reward viewers’ patience through slow, thoughtful pacing and characters who achieve their goals through endurance and waiting rather than haste. This approach is sometimes referenced in discussions of German political leaders and is a recognizable motif in German storytelling.
Berlin Conference (1884–1885)
The Berlin Conference (1884–1885). Context: Major European powers, including Germany, convened in Berlin to formalize territorial claims in Africa. The conference lasted several months, with extensive negotiations and careful consideration of complex interests before any decisions were finalized. The process was deliberate and patient, reflecting the German preference for thorough analysis rather than rushed conclusions.
Charité
A well-known German television series that illustrates the logic of allowing the nature of a decision to determine its timing-and not succumbing to internal or external pressures-is Charité. Set in Berlin’s renowned Charité hospital during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the series follows doctors, researchers, and nurses as they navigate medical, ethical, and personal dilemmas.
The show frequently depicts medical professionals taking the time necessary to thoroughly investigate symptoms, conduct research, and debate the best course of treatment, even when under pressure from hospital administration or societal expectations. Major decisions-such as adopting new treatments, responding to epidemics, or balancing innovation with patient safety-are portrayed as requiring patience, rigorous analysis, and collective deliberation.
The narrative often contrasts the careful, methodical approach of the Charité staff with the urgency of external crises, highlighting the belief that good outcomes depend on resisting haste and respecting the complexity of each decision. Charité exemplifies the German cultural value that patience and thoughtful timing are essential for sound decision-making, especially when the stakes are high and external pressures are strong.
Imperial Reforms (1493–1519)
The Holy Roman Empire underwent significant reforms, including the establishment of supreme courts and the Imperial Diet as a key decision-making body. These reforms unfolded over decades and required patient negotiation and compromise between the emperor and the estates. The slow, consultative process exemplified the German belief that important decisions should not be rushed and must be given the time their complexity demands.
Deutschland 83
This award-winning spy thriller follows a young East German soldier recruited as a spy in West Germany during the Cold War. The series highlights the slow, strategic nature of intelligence work, where decisions are made only after extensive analysis, weighing risks, and considering long-term consequences rather than yielding to immediate political or military pressures.
Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact
The Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact exemplifies several core German decision-making strategies, particularly the emphasis on strategic patience, pragmatic calculation, and allowing the nature of the decision-not external pressures-to dictate timing and terms.
Deliberate Negotiation and Timing:
The pact was the result of extended negotiations between Germany and the Soviet Union, following the breakdown of talks between the Soviets, Britain, and France. German leaders did not rush into an agreement but instead waited for the optimal moment-after other diplomatic options had failed-to secure a deal that would best serve their interests. This patience allowed Germany to negotiate from a position of strength and maximize its strategic advantage.
Pragmatic, Interest-Driven Approach:
Despite deep ideological differences, Germany prioritized practical considerations over ideology, focusing on immediate military and territorial objectives. The pact included secret protocols dividing Eastern Europe into spheres of influence, demonstrating a willingness to set aside personal or political animosities in favor of concrete, performance-based outcomes.
Control Over Decision Pace:
Germany resisted external pressures-such as the urgency from Britain and France to form an anti-German alliance-and instead set the tempo of negotiations to align with its own strategic timetable. This approach reflects the German logic that the time allotted to a decision should be determined by its complexity and importance, not by outside urgency.
Patience in Execution and Adjustment:
After the pact was signed, Germany continued to renegotiate and adjust its terms, as seen in subsequent agreements modifying borders and managing resource exchanges with the Soviet Union. This ongoing, patient adjustment process ensured that decisions remained aligned with evolving strategic needs.
In summary, the Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact demonstrates German decision-making strategies through measured, pragmatic negotiation; patience in timing and execution; and a consistent focus on achieving well-defined, interest-driven objectives, regardless of external pressure or ideological differences.
Disagree and commit
Number 25. From 37signals, the company behind the project management software called Basecamp. Classiv American thinking: think, debate, persuade … decide, then commit and support. One of the founders, Jason Fried, is a very interesting person.
Paragraph vs. Case
It is a well known fact that the German and the American legal systems have fundamental differences between them. The modern German legal system is based on ancient Roman law, combined with a bit of French and old Germanic law, but all of it follows the paragraph law structure.
The American system is derived from the English case law tradition, which follows the law as it was laid out by judicial verdicts in actual previous cases. Key cases providing precedence are reviewed to determine how to continue.
Justice (Gerechtigkeit) and judgement are closely connected in the American system. Not just the concrete facts of the case, but also the circumstances are considered to be crucial information for the deliberations and verdict. These then must be interpreted with regard to the complex nature of the human existence.
A task which only persons with sufficient experience with life as well as with people are capable of. This experience – or the wisdom that comes from such experience – is something which only older people can have.
This is why Americans are always astounded when they hear that in Germany relatively young people – in their early 30s – can become judges. Many of the district attorneys that they see on German television look as if they were fresh out of law school.
According to the American understanding of judicial power, paragraph laws play a minor part. Case law is so difficult precisely because it concerns situations which are not found in a German book of federal law.
This is why American judges must be older people who are truly good and wise. Their process too involves stringent scientific methods of analysis, not unlike German paragraph laws. These, from the American perspective, can not deliver more than just the pure facts.
The ability to take these facts and interpret them, to make sense of them, this is what they view as true good judgement. Knowledge of methodology and analytical processes may support one’s good judgement, but can never amount to the equivalent.