“Once upon a time there was an old country, wrapped up in habit and caution. We have to transform our old France into a new country and marry it to its time.”
- November 22, 1890 – November 9, 1970
- French
- Military Leader, Statesman, President of France, Founder of the Fifth Republic
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Quote
“Once upon a time there was an old country, wrapped up in habit and caution. We have to transform our old France into a new country and marry it to its time.”
Explanation
In this reflective and visionary quote, Charles de Gaulle acknowledges France’s deep historical legacy, characterized by tradition, caution, and resistance to change. By beginning with “once upon a time,” he uses the language of myth or fairy tale to describe the old France, evoking a sense of nostalgia—but also of stagnation. His call to “transform” and “marry it to its time” signals a demand for renewal, modernization, and relevance, urging the nation to evolve and engage with the challenges of the contemporary world.
This sentiment was central to de Gaulle’s mission during the founding of the Fifth Republic in 1958. Faced with political instability, colonial crises, and social unrest, he believed that France had to be reformed both institutionally and spiritually. His presidency was marked by efforts to restore national confidence, economic development, and international autonomy. For de Gaulle, greatness could not rely solely on past glory; it required adapting those traditions to present needs and future aspirations.
Today, the quote remains a compelling appeal to any nation or institution facing the tension between heritage and progress. It challenges leaders and citizens alike to honor the past without being trapped by it, and to recognize that identity and tradition must evolve if they are to survive with meaning. De Gaulle’s vision was not of abandonment, but of transformation—a call to shape a new France that remains unmistakably itself, yet fully engaged with the demands of its era.
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