Charles de Gaulle Quotations

Charles de Gaulle

A true leader always keeps an element of surprise up his sleeve, which others cannot grasp but which keeps his public excited and breathless.

Every man of action has a strong dose of egotism, pride, hardness, and cunning. But all those things will be forgiven him, indeed, they will be regarded as high qualities, if he can make them the means to achieve great ends.

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

It doesn't matter if a cat is black or white, so long as it catches mice.

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

Since a politician never believes what he says, he is quite surprised to be taken at his word.

The graveyards are full of indispensable men.

Treaties are like roses and young girls -- they last while they last.