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

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

It is not tolerable, it is not possible, that from so much death, so much sacrifice and ruin, so much heroism, a greater and better humanity shall not emerge.

How can anyone govern a nation that has two hundred and forty-six different kinds of cheese?

I was France.

I have tried to lift France out of the mud. But she will return to her errors and vomitings. I cannot prevent the French from being French.

The great leaders have always stage-managed their effects.

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

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

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

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

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

Silence is the ultimate weapon of power.

Nothing great will ever be achieved without great men, and men are great only if they are determined to be so.

Deliberation is the work of many men. Action, of one alone.

The true statesman is the one who is willing to take risks.

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

You may be sure that the Americans will commit all the stupidities they can think of, plus some that are beyond imagination.