Charles de Gaulle

Charles-André-Joseph-Marie de Gaulle was a French military leader and statesman. During World War II, he reached the rank of Brigade General and then became the leader of the Forces Françaises Libres . Between 1944 and 1946, following the liberation of France from German occupation, he was head of the French provisional government. Called to form a government in 1958, he inspired a new constitution and was the Fifth Republic's first president, serving from 1958 to 1969.

Found 45 thoughts of Charles de Gaulle

Charles de Gaulle

China is a big country, inhabited by many Chinese.

Since a politician never believes what he says, he is surprised when others believe him.

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

Treaties are like roses and young girls -- they last while they last

I have against me the bourgeois, the military and the diplomats, and for me, only the people who take the Metro.

Nothing strengthens authority so much as silence.

Faced with crisis, the man of character falls back upon himself.

Diplomats are useful only in fair weather. As soon as it rains they drown in every drop.

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

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

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

For glory gives herself only to those who have always dreamed of her.

Only peril can bring the French together. One can't impose unity out of the blue on a coutnry that has 265 different kinds of cheese.

The cemeteries of the world are full of indispensable men.

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

When I am right, I get angry. Churchill gets angry when he is wrong. So we were often angry at each other.

How can you be expected to govern a country that has 246 kinds of cheese?

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.

Every man of action has a strong dose of egoism, pride, hardness, and cunning. But all those things will be regarded as high qualities if he can make them the means to achieve great ends.

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.

A great country worthy of the name does not have any friends.

A true leader always keeps an element of surprise up his sleeve, which others cannot grasp but which keeps his public excited and breathless.

When I want to know what France thinks, I ask myself.

Never relinquish the initiative.

To govern is always to choose among disadvantages.