Charles de Gaulle quotes

Charles de Gaulle was a French military leader and statesman, most famous for leading Free France during World War II and founding the Fifth Republic. His leadership was instrumental in restoring French national pride and reshaping the country's political system. He remains a towering figure in modern French history and a symbol of resilience. Here are 114 of his quotes:

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

Charles de Gaulle

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

Charles de Gaulle

How can anyone govern a nation that has 246 different kinds of cheese.

Charles de Gaulle

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

Charles de Gaulle

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

Charles de Gaulle

You'll live. Only the best get killed.

Charles de Gaulle

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

Charles de Gaulle

France cannot be France without greatness.

Charles de Gaulle

France has lost a battle. But France has not lost the war.

Charles de Gaulle

France has no friends, only interests.

Charles de Gaulle

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

Charles de Gaulle

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

Charles de Gaulle

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

Charles de Gaulle

No policy is worth anything outside of reality.

Charles de Gaulle

Men can have friends, statesmen cannot.

Charles de Gaulle

It is better to have a bad method than to have none.

Charles de Gaulle

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

Charles de Gaulle

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

Charles de Gaulle

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

Charles de Gaulle

Yes, it is Europe, from the Atlantic to the Urals, it is Europe, it is the whole of Europe, that will decide the fate of the world.

Charles de Gaulle

I am a man who belongs to no-one and who belongs to everyone.

Charles de Gaulle

The true statesman is the one who is willing to take risks.

Charles de Gaulle