Naturally we are aware of the strength of our economy and

The words of Gerhard Schröder—“Naturally we are aware of the strength of our economy and naturally we don’t want to downplay it”—are the utterance of a leader mindful of both pride and prudence. In these words we hear the echo of a people who have known hardship and recovery, who have seen their lands scarred by ruin, yet risen anew with vigor. To speak of the strength of an economy is not to boast idly, but to affirm the lifeblood of a nation, the daily labor of its workers, the ingenuity of its builders, and the vision of its leaders.

In the style of the ancients, let us see these words as more than politics—they are testimony. For when a nation has been humbled, to rise again requires not only toil but recognition. One must know the measure of one’s strength, lest humility turn into blindness and confidence into arrogance. Schröder’s phrase carries the weight of history, for it emerged in a Germany that had walked through fire and ashes in the twentieth century, and by the dawn of the new millennium had become an anchor of European stability. To ignore this would have been to dishonor the sweat and sacrifice of millions.

So it has always been with nations: when Rome rebuilt after Hannibal’s march, the Senate declared not only mourning but also resilience, proclaiming the city still strong despite its wounds. Likewise, when Franklin Roosevelt spoke to America during the Great Depression, he acknowledged the despair but pointed to the untapped strength of the American economy—the farms, the factories, the ingenuity of free people. Leaders must, at times, remind their people of the power they possess, for memory fades quickly when clouds of uncertainty gather.

Yet the wisdom of Schröder lies not in mere celebration, but in balance. To recognize strength without downplaying it is to honor truth. For there is a danger in two extremes: one is to boast too loudly and awaken envy or complacency; the other is to hide one’s power, leaving the people blind to their own capacity. The middle path—awareness without arrogance—is the course of the wise. Just as a warrior who knows his skill does not boast, but neither does he feign weakness, so must a nation acknowledge its prosperity without vanity.

Think of Japan after the devastation of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Within a generation, through discipline and innovation, it rose as an economic power. The leaders of Japan did not deny this strength, nor did they recklessly trumpet it to provoke others. Instead, they guided their people with steady words, fostering pride without arrogance. Schröder’s words belong to this lineage: the wisdom of leaders who remind their people to trust in their might, yet walk with measured steps.

The lesson for us is clear: in our own lives, we too must acknowledge the strengths we possess. Do not downplay your talents, your knowledge, or the work of your hands. For false modesty is as dangerous as boastful pride. If you deny your gifts, you cannot use them to help others; if you exaggerate them, you risk folly. Instead, be like the craftsman who knows the weight of his hammer or the scholar who knows the depth of her learning. Speak the truth of your strength, and let that truth become the foundation of your courage.

Practically, this means pausing to take account of what you have already achieved. Write down your victories, however small. Give thanks for the resources, skills, and allies you already hold. Share them with humility, but never conceal them out of fear. Just as nations prosper by acknowledging their economic strength, so do individuals thrive by acknowledging the gifts that lie within them.

And so, let Schröder’s words endure as teaching: to deny strength is to squander it, but to boast without measure is to invite downfall. Let each soul walk the noble path of awareness—confident, yet humble; bold, yet tempered. For in this balance lies not only prosperity, but the true dignity of a life, and of a people.