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.

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

We may go to the moon, but that' s not very far. The greatest distance we have to cover still lies within us.

One can unite the French only under the threat of danger. One cannot simply bring together a nation that produces 265 kinds of cheese.

One does not arrest Voltaire.

In the tumult of men and events, solitude was my temptation; now it is my friend. What other satisfaction can be sought once you have confronted History?

Genius sometimes consists of knowing when to stop.