“I grew up to always respect authority and respect those in charge.”
- November 22, 1890 – November 9, 1970
- French
- Military Leader, Statesman, President of France, Founder of the Fifth Republic
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Quote
“I grew up to always respect authority and respect those in charge.”
Explanation
This quote reflects Charles de Gaulle’s deeply ingrained belief in hierarchy, order, and disciplined leadership, values that shaped both his military career and political philosophy. From an early age, de Gaulle was raised in a traditional, patriotic, and Catholic environment, where obedience to authority was seen not as submission, but as a form of moral and civic duty. This early formation laid the foundation for his later emphasis on strong, centralized leadership.
As a soldier and later as the architect of the Fifth Republic, de Gaulle consistently upheld the idea that authority must be respected to maintain national unity and effective governance. He believed that a leader’s role was not to follow the crowd but to guide it with vision, courage, and a firm hand. This perspective was evident in how he consolidated executive power, often standing alone in his convictions, whether against the tide of wartime defeat or during civil unrest in the 1960s.
In contemporary discourse, this quote offers a reminder of the value of structure and leadership in times of uncertainty. While modern democratic societies often challenge authority in the name of progress or justice, de Gaulle’s words caution that without respect for legitimate authority, cohesion and purpose can falter. His respect for those in charge was not blind allegiance, but a belief that leadership deserves deference when it serves the greater good with integrity and resolve.
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