Quotes by Charles de Gaulle

About Charles de Gaulle:

Charles André Joseph Marie de Gaulle was a French general, resistant, writer and statesman. He was the leader of Free France (1940–44) and the head of the Provisional Government of the French Republic (1944–46). In 1958, he founded the Fifth Republic and was elected as the 18th President of France, until his resignation in 1969. He was the dominant figure of France during the Cold War era and his memory continues to influence French politics.
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

One does not arrest Voltaire.

Charles de Gaulle

Soyons fermes, purs et fidèles ; au bout de nos peines, il y a la plus grande gloire du monde, celle des hommes qui n'ont pas cédé. [Let us be firm, pure and faithful; at the end of our sorrow, there is the greatest glory of the world, that of the...

Charles de Gaulle

A man of character finds a special attractiveness in difficulty, since it is only by coming to grips with difficulty that he can realize his potentialities.

Charles de Gaulle

How can you govern a country which has 246 varieties of cheese?

Charles de Gaulle

France has lost a battle. But France has not lost the war

Charles de Gaulle

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

Once upon a time there was an old country, wrapped up in habit and caution. We have to transform our old France into a new country and marry it to its time.

Charles de Gaulle

I respect only those who resist me, but I cannot tolerate them.

Charles de Gaulle

I grew up to always respect authority and respect those in charge.

Charles de Gaulle

The graveyards are full of indispensable men.

Charles de Gaulle

The better I get to know men, the more I find myself loving dogs.

Charles de Gaulle

In order to become the master, the politician poses as the servant.

Charles de Gaulle

I have come to the conclusion that politics are too serious a matter to be left to the politicians.

Charles de Gaulle

Politics is too serious a matter to be left to the politicians.

Charles de Gaulle

In politics it is necessary either to betray one's country or the electorate. I prefer to betray the electorate.

Charles de Gaulle

Silence is the ultimate weapon of power.

Charles de Gaulle

The sword is the axis of the world and its power is absolute.

Charles de Gaulle

Authority doesn't work without prestige, or prestige without distance.

Charles de Gaulle

France has lost the battle but she has not lost the war.

Charles de Gaulle

Author Bio

  • NameCharles de Gaulle
  • Descriptioneighteenth President of the French Republic
  • AliasesCharles André Joseph Marie de Gaulle
  • BornNovember 22, 1890
  • DiedNovember 9, 1970
  • CountryFrance
  • ProfessionOfficer; Statesman; Memoirist; Military Theorist
  • AwardsGrand Cross Of The National Order Of Merit; Grand Cross Of The Legion Of Honour; Knight Grand Cross With Collar Of The Order Of Merit Of The Italian Republic; Knight Grand Cross Of The Royal Victorian Order; Companion Of The Liberation