35 Charles De Gaulle Quotes From The Former French President
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Charles De Gaulle was born on 22 November 1890 and died on 9 November 1970 and was an army officer and former president of France.
The eminent leader is a famous statement personality. He worked against Nazi Germany in world war II and charged the provisional government of the French Republic from 1944 till 1946.
He was interested in the military since childhood and hence he enrolled in the country's top military academy in 1909. He was a mediocre student in school and his father was a literature professor.
Years later he got married in Calais to Yvonne Vendroux in 1921. Their eldest son was born the same year and subsequently, he joined the French Navy.
Apart from his son, Charles de Gaulle had two daughters, Elizabeth and Anne in the years 1924 and 1928.
Anne was born with Down's syndrome and died of pneumonia at the age of 20. This inspired her parents to establish an organization that supports people with disabilities.
His tactical ideas were unpopular and this affected his professional relationships greatly. He was sentenced to death in absentia by a French military court for drumming up support for free French forces and for openly opposing Pétain's Vichy Government who was later believed to be related to the Nazi organization.
Throughout his carrier, the American and British liberals created a negative image about him based on his nature because he was right-wing.
However, he is recognized for having saved France on three occasions in history namely, saving the french republic from Nazi Germany, ending the Algerian Crisis, and ended the chaos that happened through the May revolt by massing a million people on the Champs Elysees in a counter-demonstration.
Between 1919 and 1921 he received Poland's highest military honor.
Queen Elizabeth II said that "The courage and tenacity in the allied cause during the dark years of the second world war will never be forgotten".
In this article, we will take a look at some Charles de Gaulle quotes inspired by his life and views politics, war, and other aspects. If you like this article, visit Napoleon quotes and Baron de Montesquieu quotes.
Best Charles De Gaulle Quotes
Charles De Gaulle was elected as president on 21 December 1958. He was under the limelight which increased the risk of him being a target.
There were numerous assassination attempts on him, one such incident being an organized machine gun ambush on Charles and Yvonne's limousine in August 1962, but they escaped and were safe. Here are some Charles De Gaulle quotes inspired by his life and experiences
1."Patriotism is when love of your own people comes first; nationalism, when hate for people other than your own comes first."
-Charles de Gaulle
2."Always choose the hardest way, on it you will not find opponents'
-Charles de Gaulle
3."I have come to the conclusion that politics are too serious a matter to be left to the politicians."
-Charles de Gaulle
4."Politics, when it is an art and a service, not exploitation, is about acting for an ideal through realities."
-Charles de Gaulle
5."In order to be a master, the politician poses as the servant."
-Charles de Gaulle
6."A politician never believes what he says, he is surprised when others believe him."
-Charles de Gaulle
7."Silence is the ultimate weapon of power."
-Charles de Gaulle
8."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."
-Charles de Gaulle
9."Treaties you see are like girls and roses; they last while they last."
-Charles de Gaulle
10."When I am right, I get angry. Churchill gets angry when he is wrong. We are angry at each other much of the time."
-Charles de Gaulle
11."There is no prestige without mystery, for familiarity breeds contempt."
-Charles de Gaulle
12."Much publishing is done through politics, friends, and natural stupidity."
-Charles de Gaulle
13."The cemeteries are full of indispensable men."
-Charles de Gaulle
14."You'll live, only the best get killed."
-Charles de Gaulle
15."The sword is the axis of the world and grandeur cannot be divided."
-Charles de Gaulle
16."Nothing builds authority up like silence, splendor of the strong and shelter of the weak."
-Charles de Gaulle
17."One must speak little. In action, one must say nothing. The chief is the one who does not speak."
-Charles de Gaulle
18."It's better to have a bad method than to have none."
-Charles de Gaulle
19."The better I get to know men, the more I find myself loving dogs."
-Charles de Gaulle
20."I am too poor to bow."
-Charles de Gaulle
Famous Quotes From Charles De Gaulle
His name is on the great airport outside Paris which is one of the largest international airports in the country. He was a leader whose impact spanned through the 20th century and further as well.
De Gaulle largely favored a professional army, mechanization, and easy mobilization as means to get past the interwar years. Take a look at some of the most famous Charles De Gaulle quotes.
21."Nations have no friends only interests."
-Charles de Gaulle
22."France has lost a battle. But France has not lost the war."
-Charles de Gaulle
23."France cannot be France without greatness."
-Charles de Gaulle
24."All my life I have had a certain idea of France."
-Charles de Gaulle, 'Memoires De Guerre'
25."You must be sure that the Americans will commit all the stupidities they can think of, plus some that are beyond imagination."
-Charles de Gaulle
26."Belgium is a country invented by the British to annoy the French."
-Charles de Gaulle
27."China is a big country, inhabited by many Chinese."
-Charles de Gaulle
28."Men can have friends, statesmen cannot."
-Charles de Gaulle
29."Nothing great will ever be achieved without great men, and men are great only if they are determined to do so."
-Charles de Gaulle
30."Nothing lasts until it is incessantly renewed."
-Charles de Gaulle, 'The Complete War Memoirs of Charles De Gaulle
31."I am a man who belongs to nobody and who belongs to everybody."
-Charles de Gaulle
32."Deliberation is the work of many men. Action, of one alone."
-Charles de Gaulle
33."A man of character finds a special attractiveness in difficulty since it is only by the coming to grips with difficulty that he can realize his potentialities."
-Charles de Gaulle
34."How can anyone govern a country that has two hundred and forty-six different varieties of cheese?"
-Charles de Gaulle, 'Les Mots Du General, 1962'
35."There can be no prestige without mystery, for familiarity breeds contempt."
-Charles de Gaulle
Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly quotesfor everyone to enjoy! If you liked our suggestions for Charles de Gaulle quotes then why not take a look at Sartre quotes, or Herbert Hoover quotes.
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Second Image Editorial credit: Elena Dijour / Shutterstock.com
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Bachelor of Arts specializing in English, Masters of English Literature
Merlyn MathewsBachelor of Arts specializing in English, Masters of English Literature
As a multilingual content writer, Merlyn's command over multiple languages and her strong academic background in English enhance her writing capabilities. She holds a Bachelor's degree in English from Christ University and a Master's degree in English from the University of Leeds.Her professional journey includes internships at The Lagoon School and The Guardian Newspaper, both in Nigeria, enriching her experience and lending depth to her understanding of diverse work environments. Additionally, her volunteer work with Oxfam and Handout Foundation reflects her dedication to social causes.
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