"Much as I loved his society, I did not think him a loss to the Republic, for he was too dictatorial and too little inclined to let other men do important work to suit that form of government, except, indeed, in time of war. It is quite true that his was the only strong personality of which France could boast, and it was possible that, so long as he was there, the people would not be likely in a panic to hunt in other camps for a saviour; but great as was his power—physical power, power of courage and of oratory—and terrible as was the hole in France made by his death, nevertheless the smaller men were perhaps more able to conduct the Republic to prosperity and to general acceptance by the people."
Quote Details
Added by wikiquote-import-bot
Unverified quote
0 likes
Original Language: English
Available Languages (1)
Sources
Charles Dilke, quoted in Stephen Gwynn and Gertrude M. Tuckwell, The Life of the Rt. Hon. Sir Charles W. Dilke Bart., M.P. Vol. I (1917), pp. 513-514
https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/L%C3%A9on_Gambetta
Revision History
No revisions have been submitted for this quote.
Categories
Léon Gambetta
49 quotes on TrueQuotesView all quotes by Léon Gambetta →
Related Quotes
"On this day, seventy-eight years ago, our fathers founded the Republic, and—while the foreign invader was profaning t…"
"I found myself unable to tolerate such a lowering of republican France before Europe and I intervened. In a few minut…"
"Gambetta was autoritaire; I do not feel as if he were a true liberal in the old and best sense. I cannot forget how h…"
"Gambetta (since you ask my opinion of the aforementioned gentleman) struck me, at first glance, as grotesque, then re…"
"W. E. G. speaking of Gambetta said he belonged to that class of Liberals whose creed had nothing whatever to do with …"
"Those who imagine that it is the duty, or that it lies within the power, of the Government to secure the happiness of…"
"Paris, the cradle of our civilisation, the buckler of our public liberties, the teacher and guide of the national gen…"
"France is bound under the pain of humiliation and perhaps of social death to complete the French Revolution. It is th…"
"I am sorry to see that our Republican traditions are being weakened and effaced by the influence of humanitarian doct…"
"At this moment I have only one preoccupation: after our fruitless efforts to drive out the foreigner to try to save a…"