Quotes & Sayings About Sarkozy

People are too pretentious in France to like Sarkozy. But he'd be a fabulous president for America. — Claude Lelouch

When people say all politicians are the same, ask yourself if Obama was the same as Bush, if Francois Hollande is the same as Sarkozy. They are not. They are human beings with different views and different visions for the world. — Edi Rama

In a presidential campaign, you can't lie. You can't hide what you are and what you want. You can't hide what kind of President you'll be. You can't keep on talking about nothing indefinitely and committing to nothing, you can't keep running away from debate, masking the challenges. — Nicolas Sarkozy

We want to put a stop to tax havens. We want results on this, with a list of tax havens and a series of consequences. — Nicolas Sarkozy

I understand that people might be poor if they don't have any work, but I don't accept that someone is poor if they've worked really hard. — Nicolas Sarkozy

A page is turning for me. I won't be candidate in legislative elections, nor in any elections to come. — Nicolas Sarkozy

Whatever happened during the French presidential campaign will leave no hard feelings. I perfectly understand why Angela Merkel supported Nicolas Sarkozy because of the action they have taken together, even though I have questioned its results, and because of their shared political sensibility. — Francois Hollande

You are the eternal France, I love you. — Nicolas Sarkozy

France isn't just any country in Europe, and its president is not an ordinary leader in the world. Sometimes directing or leading the way is not enough, he has to initiate policies, as Nicolas Sarkozy was able to demonstrate during his term. — Francois Hollande

Political scientists have often described Gaullism as a sort of Bonapartism. I myself have occasionally compared Sarkozy to Napoleon Bonaparte. — Max Gallo

What is dangerous is not minarets, but basements and garages that hide clandestine places of worship. Thus we must choose between mosques, where we know that the rules of the republic are respected, and secret places where extremism has been developing for too long,. — Nicolas Sarkozy

We need to profoundly revise all of our taxes and charges. The aim is to tax pollution - notably fossil fuels - more, and tax work less — Nicolas Sarkozy

In 2012, those French Muslim people voted massively for Francois Hollande against Nicolas Sarkozy. With the results of elections getting even tighter, those votes can make the difference. I am obviously not in favour of a "community electorate," however, pressure is so great on them that I can easily understand how it can affect their votes. — Tariq Ramadan

The French like burgers, Madonna and Miami Vice. — Nicolas Sarkozy

I perfectly understood President Obama's attitude throughout the French presidential campaign. He had no reason to distance himself from Nicolas Sarkozy. It's the basic solidarity that leaders who worked together owe to each other. — Francois Hollande

With the world in turmoil and doubt, the American people, faithful to the values that have always defined America's identity, have expressed with force their faith in progress and the future. At a time when we must face huge challenges together, your election has raised enormous hope in France, in Europe and beyond. — Nicolas Sarkozy

What made America great was her ability to transform her own dream into hope for all mankind. America did not tell the millions of men and women who came from every country in the world and who -- with their hands, their intelligence and their heart -- built the greatest nation in the world: 'Come, and everything will be given to you.' She said: 'Come, and the only limits to what you'll be able to achieve will be your own courage and your own talent. — Nicolas Sarkozy

France must not be the only country to have a high level of welfare protection and few obligations incumbent on those who receive benefits. — Nicolas Sarkozy

It's disrespectful to tell the French in the morning that you're going to reduce the debt, in the evening that you're not going to make any savings, and the next morning, after thinking about it, that you're going to spend more. — Nicolas Sarkozy

Laissez-faire is finished. The all-powerful market that always knows best is finished. — Nicolas Sarkozy

I want to wage war against illiteracy, poverty, unemployment, unfair competition, communitarianism, delinquency. — Nicolas Sarkozy

We live in a world where people don't all have the same scruples, where all blows can be given, and where, in order to down somebody, all means can be used. Nothing will lead me astray from the path that I have chosen. — Nicolas Sarkozy

Not to intermarry racially is bad for the survival of the country. — Nicolas Sarkozy

Nothing is more destructive than the gap between people's perceptions of their own day-to-day economic well-being and what politicians and statisticians are telling them about the economy — Nicolas Sarkozy

You won't hear from me again. — Nicolas Sarkozy

He was enraged and bitter and hoped for a personal meeting with Sarkozy where he would recount to him France's colonial history in Africa and make him see reasons why her policy of assimilation was a voyage to the destruction of Africa, its people, land, culture and sense of belonging. — S.A. David

Nothing - I mean nothing - and no-one - I mean no-one - will stop me going through to the end, and trying to be ready for the challenge of 2007. — Nicolas Sarkozy

The French people have chosen change. This change I will put into place. — Nicolas Sarkozy

It's the golden age of French cinema again but it's because Sarkozy had the guts to push through copyright law. — Harvey Weinstein

Before you, I engage myself to serve my country with the devotion and the exemplary that this post demands. I understand responsibilities of the job and, as such, I give a republican salute to Nicolas Sarkozy who has led France for 5 years and who deserves all of our respect. — Francois Hollande

Perhaps the mistake I made at the start of my mandate is not understanding the symbolic dimension of the president's role and not being solemn enough in my acts. A mistake for which I would like to apologise or explain myself and which I will not make again. Now, I know the job. — Nicolas Sarkozy

Success and social promotion are not some right that anybody can claim after queuing at some [government office]. It is better: it is a right, a right that one can merit because of one's sweat. — Nicolas Sarkozy

Francois Hollande is an intelligent man. I do not have a problem with him. The only thing is, he has never held office at the state level. Honestly, can you imagine Francois Hollande as president of France? Imagine it! — Nicolas Sarkozy

To be a young Gaullist is to be a revolutionary! — Nicolas Sarkozy

The French people need to have all the facts so they can choose. And I won't be running away from it or hiding from it. — Nicolas Sarkozy

I don't give any gifts to the rich. — Nicolas Sarkozy

These latter institutions [the civil service, trade unions, media of all kinds], notably of course television, but more subtly the written press, are quite spectacular powers of unreason and ignorance. — Alain Badiou

You can be a very charitable capitalist. Like [Nicola] Sarkozy was saying, we have to 'moralise capitalism', which for me is a contradiction in terms. — Tariq Ramadan

I'm ready to become a French person amongst French people, and more than ever I have the love for my country deeply ingrained in my heart. — Nicolas Sarkozy

I have a thought for Nicolas Sarkozy, you know my loyalty on his account, but I profess it too for Jacques Chirac. — Jean-Francois Cope

Each time there is a news story, sometimes that gives ideas to people who then turn into criminals. — Nicolas Sarkozy

We are all hoping that he will recover his legendary vitality as quickly as possible, ... Chi-rac! Chi-rac! — Nicolas Sarkozy

It is hard to believe, but the phrase 'workshop of the world' was originally coined for Britain, which today, according to Nicolas Sarkozy, the French president, has 'no industry'. Having successfully launched the Industrial Revolution before other countries, Britain became such a dominant industrial power by the mid nineteenth century that it felt confident enough to completely liberalize its trade (see Thing 7). In 1860, it produced 20 per cent of world manufacturing output. In 1870, it accounted for 46 per cent of world trade in manufactured goods. The current Chinese share in world exports is only around 17 per cent (as of 2007), even though 'everything' seems to be made in China, so you can imagine the extent of British dominance then. — Ha-Joon Chang

I am not a man of my party. I do not talk only to socialists and union leaders. — Nicolas Sarkozy

Being able to find a compromise is about being brave and serving France. — Nicolas Sarkozy

If living in France bothers some people, they should feel free to leave the country. — Nicolas Sarkozy

Gandhi and Mandela and Churchill and JFK and Reagan and Thatcher and Sarkozy and Franklin and Washington set the tone to an incredible degree-their "personal style" was their "brand." ("It" starts with personal style of the tip-top leadership team. Sorry to be politically insensitive, but who would give a hoot about Tibet if it weren't for the look and style of the Dalai Lama?) Boss at any level: You're either on the "it" boat-or not. — Tom Peters

We must defend freedom of expression and if I had to chose, I prefer the excess of caricature over the excess of censure. — Nicolas Sarkozy

France now has a new president and he must be respected. I assume full responsibility for this defeat. — Nicolas Sarkozy

I committed myself totally, fully, but I didn't succeed in convincing a majority of French ... I didn't succeed in making the values we share win. — Nicolas Sarkozy

You know Sarkozy offered me the Legion d'honneur medal? I refused. People said I refused because I don't like Sarkozy, but that's ridiculous. I refused because I don't like decorations - except on women. — Azzedine Alaia

I am showing solidarity while being different. Or if you prefer, I am being different while being in solidarity. — Nicolas Sarkozy

Canadians are friends and Quebecers are my family. What France knows deep down is that within this great Canadian people, there is a Quebec nation. I do not see how proving my family, brotherly love for Quebec should be strengthened by defying Canada. — Nicolas Sarkozy

France is the country with the highest taxes in Europe along with Sweden ... something of which I am not proud. — Nicolas Sarkozy

Europe is not a choice, it is a necessity, but it needs to be rethought, refounded. — Nicolas Sarkozy

If I become president, France will not continue with the same policies as under Nicolas Sarkozy - both in domestic policy and in foreign and European policy. — Francois Hollande

There are remuneration packages that will no longer be tolerated because they bear no relation to merit. That those who create jobs and wealth may earn a lot of money is not shocking. But that those who contribute to destroying jobs and wealth also earn a lot of money is morally indefensible. — Nicolas Sarkozy

The goal is to meet the challenge of racial interbreeding ... — Nicolas Sarkozy

War has been declared on France ... — Nicolas Sarkozy

Europe is right to tell us to reduce this [France's budget] deficit and spend less. Europe is right to demand this of us but cannot at the same time demand us to increase our dues. — Nicolas Sarkozy

I love life too much to be bitter. — Nicolas Sarkozy

Solving a problem created by debt ... by creating more debt is a fool's errand. — Olivier Sarkozy

Francois Hollande is the president of the republic, he must be respected. I want to wish him good luck in the midst of these tests. — Nicolas Sarkozy

I fought for the values of responsibility, and I'm not a man who does not accept his responsibilities. — Nicolas Sarkozy

I am deeply worried because we are seeing an unleashing of violence by 2,000 to 3,000 thugs who come to smash and loot. My objective is to avoid mistakes by the police, so that people can protest in safety. — Nicolas Sarkozy

I cannot bear Netanyahu, he's a liar, — Nicolas Sarkozy

If you come to France and you wear a veil, if you go to one of the administrative buildings, then that's not acceptable. If you don't want your wife to be examined by a male doctor, then you're not welcome here. France is a country that's open. — Nicolas Sarkozy

Nicolas Sarkozy said he could see a wave rising. For once he was right. The wave's coming; it's high, its strong, and it's going to smack him in the face. — Francois Hollande

From the very beginning, the American dream meant proving to all mankind that freedom, justice, human rights and democracy were no utopia but were rather the most realistic policy there is and the most likely to improve the fate of each and every person. — Nicolas Sarkozy