Otto von Bismarck proposed that "the great questions of the day will not be settled by speeches or majority votes . . . But by blood and iron." What did Bismarck mean by this statement?

The phrase which has been often transposed to "Blood and Iron". His meaning was to gain the understanding that the unification of Germany will be brought about through the strength of the military forged in iron and the the blood spilled through warfare

Explanation : never listen to this nutter , he basically thinks that the only way to get to the point is by war and killing by building a larger arsenal

True. you know, tools like shovels.