Why should an intellectual have to renounce the pleasures of life? I am not a hermit. I am a man of flesh and blood. In fact, if you look at my name in French, that schizophrenia, that aspiration to several lives is contained in my name. Lévy is also les vies - "the lives".

Even if it doesn't sound like it at first, that's an identity that Europe can go out into the world with and take a leading role.

I don't really believe in dialogue; I am too Nietzschean for that. We need to have a warrior conception of philosophy.

For me, dressing is always a question of principle, respect, a sense of order, not to disguise myself, even in rotten places.

It's true that in France there is always this ridiculous complex about money. Money is cursed, shameful, money disqualifies you . . . In America, even though it is a Protestant country, it's the opposite.

The euro is a great achievement. It's a symbolic achievement. But, the European constitution was a missed opportunity.

The conservatives want to revolutionize the world all at once. And that's a dangerous proposal.