“I have tried to lift France out of the mud. But she will return to her errors and vomitings. I cannot prevent the French from being French.”
History
“You may be sure that the Americans will commit all the stupidities they can think of, plus some that are beyond imagination.”
ImaginationAll Quotes by Charles de Gaulle
“Authority doesn't work without prestige, or prestige without distance.”
Work“The sword is the axis of the world and its power is absolute.”
Power“The great leaders have always stage-managed their effects.”
Leadership“Silence is the ultimate weapon of power.”
Power“You'll live. Only the best get killed.”
Best“I grew up to always respect authority and respect those in charge.”
Respect“In politics it is necessary either to betray one's country or the electorate. I prefer to betray the electorate.”
Politics“Politics is too serious a matter to be left to the politicians.”
Politics“Patriotism is when love of your own people comes first nationalism, when hate for people other than your own comes first.”
Patriotism“It is not tolerable, it is not possible, that from so much death, so much sacrifice and ruin, so much heroism, a greater and better humanity shall not emerge.”
Death“Old age is a shipwreck.”
Age“In order to become the master, the politician poses as the servant.”
Politics“You may be sure that the Americans will commit all the stupidities they can think of, plus some that are beyond imagination.”
Imagination“The better I get to know men, the more I find myself loving dogs.”
Men“I respect only those who resist me, but I cannot tolerate them.”
Respect“In the tumult of men and events, solitude was my temptation now it is my friend. What other satisfaction can be sought once you have confronted History?”
History“France has lost the battle but she has not lost the war.”
War“I have come to the conclusion that politics are too serious a matter to be left to the politicians.”
Politics“Nothing great will ever be achieved without great men, and men are great only if they are determined to be so.”
Men