“When we were children, we often played war. We had a fine collection of lead soldiers. My brothers would take different countries: Xavier had Italy; Pierre, Germany. Or they would swap around. Well, I, gentlemen, always had France.”

— Charles de Gaulle

Reminiscing during an ocean voyage to Tahiti, quoted in The Atlantic, November 1960
Early life

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Charles de Gaulle 46

eighteenth President of the French Republic 1890–1970

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“When we were children, we often played war. We had a fine collection of lead soldiers. My brothers would take different countries: Xavier had Italy; Pierre, Germany. Or they would swap around. Well, I, gentlemen, always had France.”

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Charles de Gaulle 46

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