Charles de Gaulle

Patriotism is when love of your own people comes first; nationalism, when hate for people other than your own comes first.

The French love grapes, but they do not love the vine.

In order to become the master of the world, one must be the master of one's own country.

The greater the difficulties, the greater the glory.

Treaties, you see, are like roses and young girls. They last while they last.

To be great, one must be misunderstood.

I have long since come to the conclusion that all people are either for me or against me.

The best way to get a secret out of a woman is to tell her you'll keep it.

It is not enough to be right; you must also be effective.

What is difficult is not to make a decision, but to make it correctly.

The only way to rise is to look down on others.

I have always thought that in the end, the French, when faced with a choice, choose their destiny.

One cannot be a statesman without a certain dose of madness.

The most difficult thing is to decide to act, the rest is merely tenacity.

I have never ceased to believe that France is not truly herself unless she is in the front rank.

The only things that are really alive are those that can be killed.

The more I learn about people, the more I like my dog.

A leader is a dealer in hope.

There are some things that cannot be done with pleasure, but must be done with pain.

I have no doubt that eventually France will emerge from this test stronger than ever.