“I have against me the bourgeois, the military and the diplomats, and for me, only the people who take the Metro.”
- November 22, 1890 – November 9, 1970
- French
- Military Leader, Statesman, President of France, Founder of the Fifth Republic
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Quote
“I have against me the bourgeois, the military and the diplomats, and for me, only the people who take the Metro.”
Explanation
In this statement, Charles de Gaulle underscores a deep divide between the ruling classes and the everyday citizen, positioning himself as a leader whose true support comes not from elites, but from the common people. The “bourgeois, the military and the diplomats” represent entrenched interests, those who traditionally wield social, institutional, and political power. In contrast, “the people who take the Metro” symbolizes the working class—those who experience the realities of life firsthand and who often lack a political voice.
The historical context of this quote likely stems from a period of political tension in France, possibly during the 1968 crisis or earlier struggles against the old guard of the Fourth Republic. De Gaulle often cast himself as a defender of national integrity and popular sovereignty, frustrated by the resistance of bureaucratic and conservative establishments. This quote reflects his populist impulse—not in the modern demagogic sense, but in his belief that true legitimacy came from the people, not elite consensus.
In a contemporary light, de Gaulle’s words resonate with movements that challenge political elitism and institutional inertia. Whether in democratic reform campaigns or protests against inequality, the tension between those in power and the general populace remains a defining issue. The quote reminds us that leaders disconnected from ordinary life may lose moral authority, while those grounded in the everyday concerns of citizens often carry the strongest mandate for change.
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