1890-1970, French President during World War II
Church is the only place where someone speaks to me and I do not have to answer back.
Charles De Gaulle – [Churches]
Deliberation is the work of many men. Action, of one alone.
Charles De Gaulle – [Action]
Diplomats are useful only in fair weather. As soon as it rains, they drown in every drop.
Charles De Gaulle – [Diplomacy]
Every man of action has a strong dose of egoism, pride, hardness, and cunning. But all those things will be regarded as high qualities if he can make them the means to achieve great ends.
Charles De Gaulle – [Action]
Faced with crisis, the man of character falls back on himself. He imposes his own stamp of action, takes responsibility for it, makes it his own.
Charles De Gaulle – [Character]
For glory gives herself only to those who have always dreamed of her.
Charles De Gaulle – [Glory]
France has lost a battle. But France has not lost the war.
Charles De Gaulle – [Battles]
How can you govern a country with two hundred and forty six varieties of cheese?
Charles De Gaulle – [Nations]
I have come to the conclusion that politics is too serious a matter to be left to the politicians.
Charles De Gaulle – [Politicians and Politics]
I respect only those who resist me; but I cannot tolerate them.
Charles De Gaulle – [Opposition]
In order to become the master, the politician poses as the servant.
Charles De Gaulle – [Mastery]
In the tumult of men and events, solitude was my temptation; now it is my friend. What other satisfaction can be sought once you have confronted History?
Charles De Gaulle – [Solitude]
No country without an atom bomb could properly consider itself independent.
Charles De Gaulle – [Nuclear Age]
Nothing great will ever be achieved without great men, and men are great only if they are determined to be so.
Charles De Gaulle – [Determination]
Nothing strengthens authority so much as silence.
Charles De Gaulle – [Authority]
Old age is a shipwreck.
Charles De Gaulle – [Age and Aging]
Silence is the ultimate weapon of power.
Charles De Gaulle – [Silence]
Since a politician never believes what he says, he is surprised when others believe him.
Charles De Gaulle – [Politicians and Politics]
The graveyards are full of indispensable men.
Charles De Gaulle – [Humility]
The sword is the axis of the world, and grandeur is indivisible.
Charles De Gaulle – [World]