Fundamentally, American society is composed of individuals who don't go out of their way to do each other favours.

If you don't have collective agreements between unions and employers, governments have to legislate more.

The European model is in danger if we obliterate the principle of personal responsibility.

My presidential victory, if it had happened, would have been artificial in relation to the Socialist party. It may be that on my deathbed, I will come to regret my decision, but for the moment, I live at peace with it.

Contrary to what people say, my wife never turned me away from the presidency. She told me to reflect on it and do what I wanted.

We will have to create an avant-garde.... We could have a Union for the enlarged Europe, and a Federation for the avant-garde.

I would not be opposed to devising a new system of pensions, in which one part was based on collective provision, but which also gave incentives for people to take out an additional, personal plan.