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Charles de Gaulle Quotes
1890–1970 France
Charles-André-Joseph-Marie de Gaulle (22 November 1890 – 9 November 1970), in France commonly referred to as le général de Gaulle, was a French army officer and statesman who led Free France against Nazi Germany in World War II and chaired the Provisional Government of the French Republic from 1944 to 1946 in order to restore democracy in France. In 1958, he came out of retirement when appointed President of the Council of Ministers (Prime Minister) by President René Coty.
Also known as: Charles De Gaulle, Charles de Gaule, De Gaulle, Gaulle, Charles de, Charles André Joseph Marie de Gaulle (November 22, 1890 – November 09, 1970)
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44 quotes
The cabinet has no propositions to make, but orders to give.
Mémoires de guerre (1954)
It is unnecessary, for the Republic has never ceased to exist. I was the Republic.
The sword is the axis of the world.
Vers l’armée de métier (1934)
Treaties are like maidens and roses. They each have their day.
Remarks to a group of parliamentarians on the day the Élysée Treaty was ratified (1963)
A foreign military leader whose daring was feared by those who profited by it.
On General Douglas MacArthur (1951)
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.
Men can have friends, statesmen cannot.
Of course one can jump up and down yelling Europe ! Europe ! Europe ! But it amounts to nothing and it means nothing.
Anything can happen someday, even that an act conforming to honour and honesty can end up, at the end of the line, as a good political decision.
Mémoires de guerre (1954)
All my life, I have had a certain idea of France.
Mémoires de guerre (1954)
I am not ill. But do not worry, one day, I will certainly die.
Men may have friends, statesmen cannot.
France was built with swords. The fleur-de-lis, symbol of national unity, is only the image of a spear with three pikes.
La France et son armée (1938)
"Do you know that you have caused us more trouble than all the rest of our European allies?" "I do not doubt it. France is a great power."
Long live Montreal, Long live Quebec! Long live free Quebec!
I must say that if, on resuming control of our affairs, I embraced the Common Market forthwith, it was as much because of our position as an agricultural country as for the spur it would give to our industry.
Within ten years, we shall have the means to kill 80 million Russians. I truly believe that one does not light-heartedly attack people who are able to kill 80 million Russians, even if one can kill 800 million French, that is if there were 800 million French.
Now she is like the others.
Some even feared that the Jews, hitherto widely dispersed and who had remained what they had always been, that is to say, an elite people, sure of itself and domineering, once they were together again in the lands of their former grandeur might transform into a burning, conquering ambition the heart-moving wishes voiced since nineteen centuries: next year in Jerusalem.
When we were children, we often played war. We had a fine collection of lead soldiers. My brothers would take different countries: Xavier had Italy; Pierre, Germany. Or they would swap around. Well, I, gentlemen, always had France.
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