Bernard-Henri Levy Quotes & Sayings

I would hope that Europe always has a privileged relationship with the United States. The alternatives are not attractive. — Bernard-Henri Levy

I definitely don't agree with that sort of rhetoric from the United States - this idea that all the major conflicts of our age need to be solved militarily. — Bernard-Henri Levy

The conservatives want to revolutionize the world all at once. And that's a dangerous proposal. — Bernard-Henri Levy

Islamic terrorists are new examples of an old problem with fascism. — Bernard-Henri Levy

The euro is a great achievement. It's a symbolic achievement. But, the European constitution was a missed opportunity. — Bernard-Henri Levy

Europe has certainly lost confidence in itself. This was something that, when I was a young man, we never imagined would happen. — Bernard-Henri Levy

I reject the idea that there is some sort of existential "clash of civilizations." I am an interventionist, but not a militarist. War should always be a last resort. — Bernard-Henri Levy

Europe needs to develop a sense of collective history - we need to write books from a European perspective, to teach it in schools as well. — Bernard-Henri Levy

God is dead but my hair is perfect. — Bernard-Henri Levy

The European Union should not be prescribing an identity. We know what that's like, when a government tells its people how it should look; what it should be doing. That's the first step towards totalitarianism. — Bernard-Henri Levy

In general, Europeans need to get a wider perspective on the problem of Islamism. Even if the Israel-Palestine question were solved - and I think and hope that one day soon it will be - this wouldn't stop one person from becoming a terrorist. — Bernard-Henri Levy

The totalitarian state is not a force unleashed, the truth is in chains. — Bernard-Henri Levy

There is a gentleness, a lightness, an element of freedom and, in a word, of civilization, that makes this country one of the few countries in the world where, despite everything, you can still breathe freely. — Bernard-Henri Levy

The only successful revolution of this century is totalitarianism. — Bernard-Henri Levy

America creates myths by focusing a lot of energy on its history and using it - - not always, but sometimes - for constructive purposes. — Bernard-Henri Levy

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. — Bernard-Henri Levy

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

I would sooner want a strong partnership with the United States - even with (US President George W.) Bush, who I think is the worst president in a long, long time. I would sooner want a friendship with Bush than with (Russian President Vladimir) Putin. — Bernard-Henri Levy

If you trace the history of Islamist terrorism, you see that its founders were great admirers of European fascism. They read the texts of European fascism, they quoted them in speeches and letters. This is not from the Koran - the Koran doesn't teach you how to repress people; there's nothing in there about women having to cover their faces, there's certainly nothing about suicide bombing. — Bernard-Henri Levy