Charles de Gaulle

Charles de Gaulle

21 quotes

French general and statesman Charles de Gaulle has a gift for language that makes complex ideas feel instantly clear. The range of their thinking — from Politics to Men — speaks to an intellectual restlessness that shows in every quote. Discover 23 of Charles de Gaulle's most memorable quotes, ranging across Politics, Men, Respect, Power, and History. Among their most shared lines: "Silence is the ultimate weapon of power."

“The sword is the axis of the world and its power is absolute.”

— Charles de Gaulle

Power

All Quotes by Charles de Gaulle

“Politics is too serious a matter to be left to the politicians.”

— Charles de Gaulle

Politics

“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.”

— Charles de Gaulle

History

“The better I get to know men, the more I find myself loving dogs.”

— Charles de Gaulle

Men

“Nothing great will ever be achieved without great men, and men are great only if they are determined to be so.”

— Charles de Gaulle

Men

“Deliberation is the work of many men. Action, of one alone.”

— Charles de Gaulle

Alone

“You'll live. Only the best get killed.”

— Charles de Gaulle

Best

“Silence is the ultimate weapon of power.”

— Charles de Gaulle

Power

“Patriotism is when love of your own people comes first nationalism, when hate for people other than your own comes first.”

— Charles de Gaulle

Patriotism

“Old age is a shipwreck.”

— Charles de Gaulle

Age

“In order to become the master, the politician poses as the servant.”

— Charles de Gaulle

Politics

“In politics it is necessary either to betray one's country or the electorate. I prefer to betray the electorate.”

— Charles de Gaulle

Politics

“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.”

— Charles de Gaulle

Death

“I have come to the conclusion that politics are too serious a matter to be left to the politicians.”

— Charles de Gaulle

Politics

“You may be sure that the Americans will commit all the stupidities they can think of, plus some that are beyond imagination.”

— Charles de Gaulle

Imagination

“I grew up to always respect authority and respect those in charge.”

— Charles de Gaulle

Respect

“The great leaders have always stage-managed their effects.”

— Charles de Gaulle

Leadership

“The sword is the axis of the world and its power is absolute.”

— Charles de Gaulle

Power

“France has lost the battle but she has not lost the war.”

— Charles de Gaulle

War

“I respect only those who resist me, but I cannot tolerate them.”

— Charles de Gaulle

Respect

“Authority doesn't work without prestige, or prestige without distance.”

— Charles de Gaulle

Work