Leon Jouhaux quotes

Léon Jouhaux was a French trade union leader and prominent advocate for workers' rights. Renowned for his role as head of the General Confederation of Labour (CGT), he helped shape social progress in France and Europe. He was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his tireless efforts in promoting peace and social justice. Here are 14 of his quotes:

We too, through lack of knowledge and of sufficiently mature reflection, mistook the visible outward appearance of the phenomenon for the phenomenon itself.

Leon Jouhaux

This disaster did not force us to abandon our ideal; on the contrary, from the very first months of the conflict, it led us to define precisely the conditions for its realization.

Leon Jouhaux

This led me to understand that trade unionism, the instrument of working-class liberation and of social change could, and indeed should, be also an instrument of industrial progress.

Leon Jouhaux

From 1918 on, trade unionists were to express from the platforms of their congresses the workers' desire for peace through a rational organization of the world.

Leon Jouhaux

At Leeds the idea of an international labour organization appeared in a trade-union text which also drew attention to the danger to the working classes inherent in the existence of international capitalist competition.

Leon Jouhaux

True enough, nature has endowed me with a fair measure of patience and composure, yet I should be lying if I told you that, having seen the reporter off on his way to make his deadline, I fell peacefully asleep.

Leon Jouhaux

On completion of my military service, I went back to the factory and to the trade union.

Leon Jouhaux

Furthermore, it is not distorting history to say that it was largely through the efforts and propaganda of our International Federation that the government of the U.S.S.R. was recognized by the majority of the great powers.

Leon Jouhaux

The trade unions, far from being content with these declarations, established international liaisons and supported every policy based on pacification and understanding.

Leon Jouhaux

My parents, and especially my mother, encouraged by the director of the local school which I was attending, wanted in spite of everything to send me to a National School of Arts and Crafts so that I could later become an engineer.

Leon Jouhaux

The working classes were becoming more and more sharply aware of the complex causes of international malaise.

Leon Jouhaux

Expressing the thoughts of my comrades, I suggested, among other means, the organization of an international information service on inventories, on production, and on the needs of the various countries for raw materials.

Leon Jouhaux