Old France, weighed down with history, prostrated by wars and revolutions, endlessly vacillating from greatness to decline, but revived, century after century, by the genius of renewal! Charles de Gaulle More Quotes by Charles de Gaulle More Quotes From Charles de Gaulle Patriotism is when love of your own people comes first; nationalism, when hate for people other than your own comes first. Charles de Gaulle patriotic hate integrity How can anyone govern a nation that has two hundred and forty-six different kinds of cheese? Charles de Gaulle six food two Always choose the hardest way, on it you will not find opponents Charles de Gaulle opponents hardest way Nothing more enhances authority than silence. It is the crowning virtue of the strong, the refuge of the weak, the modesty of the proud, the pride of the humble, the prudence of the wise, and the sense of fools. To speak is to . . . dissipate one's strength; whereas what action demands is concentration. Silence is a necessary preliminary to the ordering of one's thoughts. Charles de Gaulle strength strong wise You may be sure that the Americans will commit all the stupidities they can think of, plus some that are beyond imagination. Charles de Gaulle funny america thinking Belgium is a country invented by the British to annoy the French. Charles de Gaulle belgium annoying country I have come to the conclusion that politics are too serious a matter to be left to the politicians. Charles de Gaulle politics political life Since a politician never believes what he says, he is quite surprised to be taken at his word. Charles de Gaulle trust freedom witty The graveyards are full of indispensable men. Charles de Gaulle leadership witty death Deliberation is the work of many men. Action, of one alone. Charles de Gaulle standing-alone action men It will not be any European statesman who will unite Europe: Europe will be united by the Chinese. Charles de Gaulle chinese politics europe Silence is the ultimate weapon of power. Charles de Gaulle weapons silence power War stirs in men's hearts the mud of their worst instincts. It puts a premium on violence, nourishes hatred, and gives free rein to cupidity. It crushes the weak, exalts the unworthy, and bolsters tyranny .. .Time and time again it has destroyed all ordered living, devastated hope, and put the prophets to death. Charles de Gaulle crush war peace 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 success inspirational You have to be fast on your feet and adaptive or else a strategy is useless. Charles de Gaulle gnarly change leadership At the root of our civilization, there is the freedom of each person of thought, of belief, of opinion, of work, of leisure. Charles de Gaulle leisure roots civilization 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 men who did not give in.] Charles de Gaulle faithful giving men We may go to the moon, but that' s not very far. The greatest distance we have to cover still lies within us. Charles de Gaulle suicide motivational inspirational In politics it is necessary either to betray one's country or the electorate. I prefer to betray the electorate. Charles de Gaulle nerd betrayal country One must wait until the evening to see how splendid the day was; one cannot judge life until death. Charles de Gaulle judging waiting death