Charles de Gaulle Quotes

Every man of action has a strong dose of egoism, pride, hardness, and cunning. But all those things will be regarded as high qualities if he can make them the means to achieve great ends.

Many people around the President have sizeable egos before entering government, some with good reason. Their new positions will do little to moderate their egos.

[Douglas] MacArthur is the type of man who thinks that when he gets to heaven, God will step down from the great white throne and bow him into His vacated seat.

An empire is an immense egotism.

I did not set out to be beloved and just, only strong." 'A King can be better than that," the Prince insisted. "And so we all begin, determined to better our fathers' performances, knowing we can change the very nature of humanity, make it better, cleaner. But then daggers strike in the night, and peasants revolt, and all manner of atrocities become a necessity as breakfast. Only Princes believe in the greater good. Kings know there is only Reign, and all things may be committed in its holy name.

Never underestimate the ego of a politician.

In the interval between the defeat of the patriot cause and the last revolution, he resided in the capital, and in a society not remarkable for strict morals, he was distinguished for his immorality... To judge him from his public papers, I do not think him a man of talents. He is prompt, bold and decisive, and not scrupulous about the means he employs to obtain his ends.

Few men in high places will admit a mistake.

Power to do good is the true and lawful end of aspiring.

He that plots to be the only figure among ciphers, is the decay of the whole age.

Certainly I shall not be one of those who, having gained power, do not wish to use it.

Politicians need three things to be successful: money, unchecked ego, and sociopathic drive.

It is from the pride and ambition of rulers and the ignorance of the people that wars arise.

Mad ambition trumpeteth to all

What right have the rulers of nations to unsheath the sword of destruction, and to let loose the demons of desolation upon mankind, whenever caprice or pride, ambition or avarice, shall prescribe?

I almost think were I to win some small success now, I could become dictator.

Power is given only to those who dare to lower themselves and pick it up.

I don’t know anyone who is successful that has a small ego.

Honestly, the egos and the quest and thirst for power is very prevalent in Washington.

I want to lead. I want to change. And I'm going to do it.

I've seen people, when they get into these bigger and bigger jobs, it goes to their heads. I've seen it. Some people in life change who they are, and some don't. I'm basically the same guy I've always been.

I'd like to build a superteam. I'd like the superteam to come to me.

I'm not capable of being in a group where I'm not the leader. I did it once earlier in my career with Legacy, and that was cool because I was young and green and a rookie in the industry, but now no more.

World leaders and major political figures have often had delusions of grandeur.

I think any politician, regardless of their religious conviction, has to be a megalomaniac - they have to be! Anyone who works in that kind of job has to be so full of himself to do that kind of thing.