goethic literature

If there has to be a choice between injustice and disorder, said Goethe, the German prefers injustice.

Barbara W. Tuchman, "Guns of August" (1962)

i've been struggling to not quote this source for some time as it will make an appearance in my year-end "favorite things" list/rant; however this line was particularly good regardless of its missing 1900s european context.