Jacques Chirac quotes

Jacques Chirac was a French politician who served as President of France for twelve years. Known for his pragmatic leadership and advocacy for European integration, he played a significant role in both national and international politics. He was respected for his efforts to modernize France and his opposition to the Iraq War. Here are 31 of his quotes:

Anything that can hurt the convictions of another, particularly religious convictions, must be avoided. Freedom of expression must be exercised in a spirit of responsibility. I condemn all manifest provocation that might dangerously fan passions.

Jacques Chirac

Our house is burning and we look elsewhere. Nature mutilated, overexploited is not able to recover and we refuse to admit it. From North to South, it suffers from ill-development, and we are indifferent. Earth and humanity are in great peril and we are accountable.

Jacques Chirac

One can go to war alone, but you can't build peace alone.

Jacques Chirac

Terrorism has become the systematic weapon of a war that knows no borders or seldom has a face.

Jacques Chirac

Romania and Bulgaria were particularly irresponsible. If they wanted to diminish their chances of joining Europe they could not have found a better way.

Jacques Chirac

Terrorism takes us back to ages we thought were long gone if we allow it a free hand to corrupt democratic societies and destroy the basic rules of international life.

Jacques Chirac

As far as France is concerned, we are ready to envisage everything that can be done under UNSCR 1441. [...] But I repeat that every possibility offered by the present resolution must be explored, that there are a lot of them and they still leave us with a lot of leeway when it comes to ways of achieving the objective of eliminating any weapons of mass destruction which may exist in Iraq. I'd like nevertheless to note that, as things stand at the moment, I have, to my knowledge, no indisputable proof in this sphere.

Jacques Chirac

The construction of Europe is an art. It is the art of the possible.

Jacques Chirac

If our language, our programs, our creations are not strongly present in the new media, the young generation of our country will be economically and culturally marginalized.

Jacques Chirac

Finally, a safer world presupposes the revival of the virtuous circle of non-proliferation of weapons and disarmament.

Jacques Chirac

These irresponsible acts, which cannot have any justification whatsoever, are to be fully condemned. In these appalling circumstances, I want to offer you the most sincere condolences, both in my name and in that of the French people.

Jacques Chirac

France is the friend and ally of Iraq.

Jacques Chirac

I would say that what is dangerous about this situation is not the fact of having a nuclear bomb. Having one or perhaps a second bomb a little later, well, that's not very dangerous. Where will it drop it, this bomb? On Israel? It would not have gone 200 meters into the atmosphere before Tehran would be razed. ...It is obvious that this bomb, at the moment it was launched, obviously would be destroyed immediately. We have the means -- several countries have the means to destroy a bomb.

Jacques Chirac

Never make up with extremism, racism, antisemitism or rejecting whoever is different.

Jacques Chirac

I have been an active member of Mandela's ANC since the end of the 60's or the beginning of the 70's. Hassan II, the King of Morocco, talked me into helping fund the ANC. [...] I remember that at the time, the South African President, who must have been Vorster, was putting a lot of pressure on our ministers, so that they come to South Africa. A number of French ministers accepted these invites. I too was frequently asked to go... The leaders of South Africa wanted to make us believe that the apartheid was normal, or did not exist. I declared officially and most clearly, urbi et orbi, that I wouldn't set a foot there as long as the apartheid would exist.

Jacques Chirac

As soon as one nation claims the right to take preventive action, other countries will naturally do the same. If we go down that road, where are we going?

Jacques Chirac

When you are in the family... you have more rights than when you are asking to join and knocking on the door.

Jacques Chirac

France will insist on the need for updated and responsive institutions.

Jacques Chirac

You cannot trust people who have such bad cuisine. It [Great Britain] is the country with the worst food after Finland.

Jacques Chirac

As far as I'm concerned, war always means failure.

Jacques Chirac

Faced with intolerance and hatred, no debate is possible.

Jacques Chirac

The only thing they (the English) have ever done for European agriculture is mad cow disease.

Jacques Chirac