Francois Mitterrand quotes:

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

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.

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.

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

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

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.

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.

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

France could have all the socialism its capitalistic economy could support.

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

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

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."