“No, I’m not talking about the Russians; I mean the Germans. In spite of everything, to have pushed so far!”

All my life I have had a certain idea of France.

You’ll live. Only the best get killed.

Don’t think of yourself as indispensable or infallible. The cemeteries of the world are full of indispensable men.

Never relinquish the initiative.

How can you govern a country which has 246 varieties of cheese?

Men are of no importance. What counts is who commands.

No country without an atom bomb could properly consider itself independent.

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

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.

Difficulty attracts the man of character because it is in embracing it that he realizes himself.

Every Frenchman wants to enjoy one or more privileges; that’s the way he shows his passion for equality.

Since a politician never believes what he says, he is quite surprised to be taken at his word.

The leader is always alone before bad fates.

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

Always choose the hardest way, on it you will not find opponents.

Love is the strongest force the world possesses, and yet it is the Greatness is a road leading towards the unknown.

Work hard, have fun and make history.

Don’t let complexity stop you.

Don’t spend major time on minor things.

I’m as proud of what we don’t do as I am of what we do.

If things aren’t breaking, then you’re not moving fast enough. People learn by making mistakes.

I learned to go into business only with people whom I like, trust, and admire.

Silence is golden when you can’t think of a good answer.

Your employee should have superior technical skills than you. If he doesn’t, it means you have hired the wrong person.