Mitterrand Quotes & Sayings

Nationalism is war. - in arguing to strengthen the federal powers of the European Union — Francois Mitterrand

Communism is born out of misery, and if the West does not show more understanding, those people will take up arms and turn to others, that is the Soviet Union. — Francois Mitterrand

All that passes under our eyes proves that we do not live in a peaceful and harmonious world. — Francois Mitterrand

Everyone says Francois Mitterrand had huge charisma. But before he was president they used to call him badly dressed, old, archaic and say he knew nothing about the economy ... until the day he was elected. It's called universal suffrage. When you're elected, you become the person that embodies France. — Francois Hollande

A man loses contact with reality if he is not surrounded by his books. — Francois Mitterrand

Behind each great man, there's a Richard Delisle. — Francois Mitterrand

In one of his last appearances, Mitterrand, the agnostic president, was asked what the real God might say to him if he went to heaven. God would say: "At last, you know." And I would hope that He would add, "Welcome." — Francois Mitterrand

I started my political life in the Resistance. It was there that I had my first responsibility. — Francois Mitterrand

I gave myself an objective, to be the second president from Correze and finally to be the successor to Francois Mitterrand. — Francois Hollande

During Mr. Reagan's trip to Europe ... members of the traveling press corps watched him doze off so many times
during speeches by French President Francois Mitterrand and Italian President Alessandro Pertini, as well as during a one-on-one audience with the Pope
that they privately christened the trip 'The Big Sleep.' — Mark Hertsgaard

I think the career of President Mitterrand, which was rather sensational when it was revealed, is probably very typical. — Robert O. Paxton

Let's say I have a mystical soul and a rational brain, and, like Montaigne, I am incapable of choosing between them. I don't know if I believe in God, but I am often tempted to believe. — Francois Mitterrand

There's a joke people tell in the Soviet Union: Mitterrand, Bush and Gorbachev have a meeting with God. Mitterrand says, 'My country faces many difficult problems-- lagging exports, Muslim minorities, European unification. How long will it be before France's problems are solved?' God says, 'Fifteen years.' Mitterrand begins to cry. 'I'm an old man,' says Mitterrand. 'I'll be dead by then. I'll never see France's problems solved.' Then Bush says, 'My country faces many difficult problems-- recession, crime, racial prejudice. How long will it be before America's problems are solved?' God says, 'Ten years.' Bush begins to cry. 'I'm an old man,' says Bush. 'I'll be out of office by then. I won't get any credit for solving America's problems.' Then Gorbachev says, 'My country faces many, many difficult problems. How long will it be before the Soviet Union's problems are solved?' God begins to cry. — P. J. O'Rourke

The partnerships between Schmidt and Giscard, Kohl and Mitterrand, and even between Chirac and Schroeder, have proved that political differences do not mean that we cannot work together. — Francois Hollande

But Maastricht was not the end of history. It was a first step towards a Europe of growth, of employment, a social Europe. That was the vision of Francois Mitterrand. We are far from that now. — Laurent Fabius

France could have all the socialism its capitalistic economy could support. — Francois Mitterrand

To every reversal of people's soveregnity, to every disappearance of the Republic corresponds a frank or disguised restitution in force of the regal justice. 'Tell me, according to what you judge and I'll tell you who you are. [ ... ] No axiom in politics is more certain than this. — Francois Mitterrand

France is delighted at this new opportunity to show the world that when one has the will one can succeed in joining peoples who have been brought close by history. — Francois Mitterrand

I have given myself one objective, to be the long-awaited successor to Francois Mitterrand. — Francois Hollande

a genius of means, barren of ends — Perry Anderson

Mitterrand had a sense for symbols, and he was the first Socialist president since 1958. He wanted to show that there is historical continuity, a connection with the great figures of French history. — Francois Hollande

The problem is that the East is producing missiles and the West is producing pacifists. — Francois Mitterrand

For me Greece is Maria Farantouri. This is how I imagined Goddess Hera to be: strong, pure and vigilant. I have never encountered any other artist able to give me such a strong sense of the divine. — Francois Mitterrand