Never relinquish the initiative.

I am not bad, thank you. But don't worry, one of these days I shall certainly die.

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

I wouldn't mind dying for France, but not for Air France.

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

A man of character finds a special attractiveness in difficulty, since it is only by coming to grips with difficulty that he can realize his potentialities.

As an adolescent I was convinced that France would have to go through gigantic trials, that the interest of life consisted in one day rendering her some signal service and that I would have the occasion to do so.