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If, amid our misfortunes, the Republican form of government has appeared the only one possible, it is because no other was in a position to confront the danger. At the time of the catastrophe there was no thought of any other Government. Where were the claimants to the throne?

— Léon Gambetta

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More quotes by Léon Gambetta

To remain a great nation or to become one, you must colonise.

A man's first duty is to fight for his country.

France has seen a portion of her inheritance wrested from her; she must recover her loss. That is the work we have to do: let us think of it always, but speak of it—never!

Speech in Chambéry (1872)

I am only saddened by the help foreigners obtain from my electoral opponents at home. It is very sad to see the extreme (radical) republican party losing even the notion of patriotism.

At this moment I have only one preoccupation: after our fruitless efforts to drive out the foreigner to try to save at least our Republican institutions.

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Attribution

Quote text and notes from Wikiquote: Léon Gambetta (page history), available under CC BY-SA 4.0. Source quality and labels are our own summary of what Wikiquote records.