The construction of Europe is an art. It is the art of the possible.
Jacques ChiracRead
The authority and influence of France on the world scene in the 21st century will not depend solely on its modernity and cohesion, nor even on the continuity and professionalism of its foreign policy. France will be heeded if it has a message to convey. Faced with the temptations of laissez-faire, France must stand out as the nation with the imagination and determination to pursue an ambition that combines cogency with generosity.
Interpretation
What this quote means
France's global influence requires a compelling message and a commitment to ambition and generosity.
In this quote, Jacques Chirac emphasizes that France's impact and authority on the world stage in the 21st century will not be determined solely by its modernity or effective foreign policy. Instead, for France to be truly influential, it must convey a meaningful message backed by creativity and a strong will to combine clarity of purpose with a spirit of generosity, standing out in an era characterized by individualism and indifference.
Themes
FranceInfluenceAmbitionGenerosityForeign Policy
In practice
Example use cases
In a speech about international relations, one might quote Chirac to emphasize the importance of a nation's message.
More from Jacques Chirac
All quotes →Our house is burning down and we are blind to it. The earth and humankind are in danger and we are all responsible. It is time to open our eyes. Alarms are sounding across all continents. We cannot say we did not know! Climate warming is still reversible. Heavy would be the responsibility of those who refuse to fight it.
Jacques ChiracRead
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