The German-French friendship is indispensable for Europe. And I will never let myself be carried away to making statements that would change it.

Austerity need not be Europe's fate.

Today, Paris is the capital of the world.

I could have made a fortune in cheeseburgers, but I finally chose politics.

I don't like indecent, unearned wealth. But it is legitimate for an entrepreneur who has created something to make a good living.

If we don't manage to find not just a compromise but a lasting peace agreement, we know perfectly well what the scenario will be. It has a name, it's called war.

There cannot be prosperity without security.

There are tensions abroad where people don't understand our attachment to the freedom of speech, we've seen the protests, and I would say that in France all beliefs are respected.

Each country has a soul, and France's soul is equality.

My real adversary has no name, no face, no party. It will never be elected, yet it governs - the adversary is the world of finance.

To me, it's important to preserve proximity to the people. I wouldn't do anything pretentious, and nothing that hurts the people who voted for me. Triumphalism isn't my thing.

A leader becomes great by inspiring others to do great things.

No ethical person wants to be a king or a queen, because there is no ethics and honor in putting yourself in a place higher than others!

Is it possible to find your future in the past?

My Mum taught me great manners. And she always told me that you can be or do whatever in life, as long as you don't hurt anyone and you're happy. My Mum's great; I adore her.

We're all a piece of the puzzle. It's a weird puzzle and it looks odd, but we all fit in it.

The man of knowledge acquires something new everyday, and the man of Tao lets go of something new every day.

Departures and arrivals tend to emphasize people's personalities.

Faith transforms the whole person precisely to the extent that he or she becomes open to love.

The love of fame usually spurs on the mind. [Lat., Ingenio stimulos subdere fama solet.]

I realized that if what we call human nature can be changed, then absolutely anything is possible. From that moment my life changed.