He did not hold that the voice of the people was the voice of God.

This belief did not satisfy his moral sense; it seemed in public life to leave all to interest and ambition and nothing to duty.

It did not satisfy his critical intellect; the word "people" was to him a vague idea.

The service of the People or of the King by the Grace of God, this was the struggle which was soon to be fought out.
Bismarck's connection with his neighbours was cemented by his marriage.
At the beginning of 1847, he was engaged to a Fraeulein von Puttkammer, whom he had first met at the Blankenburgs' house; she belonged to a quiet and religious family, and it is said that her mother was at first filled with dismay when she heard that Johanna proposed to marry the mad Bismarck.

He announced the engagement to his sister in a letter containing the two words, "All right," written in English.