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 GAULLEDiplomats are useful only in fair weather. As soon as it rains they drown in every drop.
More Charles de Gaulle Quotes
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The leader must aim high, see big, judge widely, thus setting himself apart form the ordinary people who debate in narrow confines.
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Leaders of men are later remembered less for the usefulness of what they have achieved than for the sweep of their endeavors.
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France was built with swords. The fleur-de-lis, symbol of national unity, is only the image of a spear with three pikes.
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The perfection preached in the gospels never yet built an empire. Every man of action has a strong dose of egotism, pride, hardness, and cunning.
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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?
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Victory often goes to the army that makes the least mistakes, not the most brilliant plans.
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A true leader always keeps an element of surprise up his sleeve, which others cannot grasp but which keeps his public excited and breathless.
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Authority doesn’t work without prestige, or prestige without distance.
CHARLES DE GAULLE -
One cannot govern with ‘buts’.
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In the tumult of great events, solitude was what I hoped for. Now it is what I love. How is it possible to be contented with anything else when one has come face to face with history?
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Deliberation is the work of many men. Action, of one alone.
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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 -
Men are of no importance. What counts is who commands.
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Difficulty attracts the characterful man, for it is by grasping it that he fulfils himself.
CHARLES DE GAULLE -
I wouldn’t mind dying for France, but not for Air France.
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Don’t ask me who’s influenced me. A lion is made up of the lambs he’s digested, and I’ve been reading all my life.
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One can unite the French only under the threat of danger. One cannot simply bring together a nation that produces 265 kinds of cheese.
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History does not teach fatalism. There are moments when the will of a handful of free men breaks through determinism and opens up new roads.
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In politics it is necessary either to betray one’s country or the electorate. I prefer to betray the electorate.
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No, I’m not talking about the Russians; I mean the Germans. In spite of everything, to have pushed so far!
CHARLES DE GAULLE -
The true statesman is the one who is willing to take risks.
CHARLES DE GAULLE -
Nothing great will ever be achieved without great men, and men are great only if they are determined to be so.
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I feel not a person but an instrument of destiny.
CHARLES DE GAULLE -
I am not bad, thank you. But don’t worry, one of these days I shall certainly die.
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For all of us Frenchmen, the guiding rule of our epoch is to be faithful to France.
CHARLES DE GAULLE -
It’s better to have a bad plan then no plan at all.
CHARLES DE GAULLE