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Pierre Trudeau

Pierre Trudeau Quotes

Former Prime Minister of Canada

Pierre Trudeau, born on October 18, 1919, and died on September 28, 2000, was a former Prime Minister of Canada. He was a significant figure in Canadian politics, serving twice as Prime Minister and promoting social, economic, and political reforms in Canada.

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All Thinking Canada Ifs People Should Men States Believe Country Political Way Violence Knows World Nations Canada Being Great Force I Believe Mean Reality

Famous Pierre Trudeau Quotes

“I remember thinking that walking on the beach as a free man is pretty desirable.”

Thinking Men Remember Walking Beach Desirable Free Man Walking On The Beach

Book:Memoirs

Source: Memoirs

“I, for one, will be convinced that the Canada we know and love will be gone forever. But, then, Thucydides wrote that Themistocles' greatness lay in the fact that he realized Athens was not immortal. I think we have to realize that Canada is not immortal; but, if it is going to go, let it go with a bang rather than a whimper.”

Ifs Thinking Knows Facts Realizing Gone Forever Greatness And Love Lays Convinced Canada Immortal Bangs Let It Go Athens

Author:Pierre Trudeau

“I just think you Westerners should take over this country if you are so smart.”

Ifs Thinking Should Country Smart Canada Westerners Canada Funny Canada Being Great

Author:Pierre Trudeau

“I think we have to realize that Canada is not immortal; but, if it is going to go, let it go with a bang rather than a whimper.”

Ifs Thinking Realizing Canada Immortal Bangs Let It Go

Author:Pierre Trudeau

“I think that the history of the past hundred years has shown us that, by and large, the one linguistic group to whom separatism is being preached is not moved by the arguments which are used.”

Thinking Years Past Used Groups Hundred Argument Moved

Author:Pierre Trudeau

“In specific terms I don't think I could make any suggestions, but in general terms I believe that it is because Canadians have been under the good influences of their churches that they are a tolerant people, an understanding and patient people, so that there has been little backlash against the excesses which have happened over the decades in French and in English Canada which might turn either group off.”

People Thinking Believe Littles Has Beens Might Turns I Believe Understanding Term Church Happened Groups Influence Patient Decades Canada Excess Suggestions Backlash Good Influences

Author:Pierre Trudeau

“I think the sense of exclusivity that tended to be associated with religions in past times has now disappeared. At least it has disappeared in its political and social manifestations as far as I can see.”

Thinking I Can Past Political Social Manifestation Exclusivity

Author:Pierre Trudeau

“As does every young man studying philosophy, I naturally asked myself questions about the truth of all this, and about the meaning of freedom, predestination, and liberty of choice and so on. But to have asked questions of yourself about it, I think is not too important. Let's say - I remain - I remained a believer.”

Thinking Men Doe Important Philosophy Young Choices Liberty Study Believer Young Man Predestination Studying Philosophy

Author:Pierre Trudeau

“I feel religion is basically and essentially a communication between a man and his God and I think it is the most personal thing of all and I don't think it concerns too many people.”

People Thinking Men Feels Communication Concern Personal Things

Author:Pierre Trudeau

“In my political philosophy I think that there sometimes is room for violence.”

Thinking Sometimes Philosophy Political Rooms Violence Political Philosophy

Author:Pierre Trudeau

“In my religion I really cannot think of cases where violence is justified.”

Thinking Cases Violence Justified

Author:Pierre Trudeau

“I think that religions must seek peace and love and therefore be pacifist.”

Thinking And Love Peace And Love Pacifist

Author:Pierre Trudeau

“When the religious principles, like the philosophical, are translated into reality, sometimes the reality forces violence on you, and there is no escape from it, and then I don't think it's something you should try to hide your face from.”

Thinking Should Trying Sometimes Reality Faces Force Religious Principles Violence Philosophical Your Face

Author:Pierre Trudeau

“I think that the only ultimate guide we have is our conscience, and if the law of the land goes against our conscience I think we should disobey the law.”

Ifs Thinking Should Law Land Conscience Ultimate Guides

Author:Pierre Trudeau

“Because I am a deep believer in the civil society, I think we should be prepared to pay the consequences of breaking the law and that is either paying the penalty for it, or leaving the country.”

Thinking Should Country Law Pay Consequence Prepared Leaving Believer Penalties Be Prepared Civil Society Breaking The Law Leaving The Country

Author:Pierre Trudeau

“If you live in a society where those who govern society and determine its path do not respect freedom of speech and freedom of religion, freedom of choice, freedom of assembly, and if there is no democratic process and no way to change the order of things by reason and peace and love and so on, and if, as a result of that, certain ideas in which you believe are being crushed, then I think the only way you can defend yourself against this violence is in using violence of your own.”

“I think violence is counter-productive and it is bad in democratic societies.”

Thinking Violence Democratic Productive Democratic Society

Author:Pierre Trudeau

“I believe military force can be used to redress or change the balance of power in the world, but I think that that's always a losing operation if you're not trying to do it in a way which corresponds to the basic desires of the people on whom you are acting.”

People Ifs Thinking World Way Trying Believe Used Desire Force I Believe Acting Military Balance Losing Operations Military Force Redress Balance Of Power

Author:Pierre Trudeau

“I think all of us, politicians and churchmen, should do our utmost to change the society so that there would be no need for violence.”

Thinking Needs Should Would Be Violence Politician

Author:Pierre Trudeau

“I think that as the guardian of justice elected by the people it's our duty to use whatever forms of force, police, army, to make sure that at least the freedom of choice is preserved.”

People Thinking Use Form Choices Force Justice Duty Army Police Guardian Freedom Of Choice

Author:Pierre Trudeau

“Obviously I prefer freedom, but I know, and I think all history has told us, that freedom cannot flow from anarchy and disorder.”

Thinking Knows Flow Disorder Anarchy

Author:Pierre Trudeau

“We don't think every man should be free to pass on everything to his descendants.”

Thinking Men Should Every Man Descendants

Author:Pierre Trudeau

“I think theoretically if a man is young and healthy society should not give him a basic income. He should not be given dole. He should not be eligible for welfare. If he can work and if there is work available, he should take his choice. If he wants to be a hermit or beggar, that's fine. If he wants to move with the sun and live off the land, that's fine. If he is in a society which has work for him I don't think he should theoretically be eligible for welfare.”

Ifs Thinking Men Want Giving Should Moving Young Choices Given Sun Land Fine Healthy Available Income Welfare Beggar Hermits Healthy Society

Author:Pierre Trudeau

“I think that more and more young people are discovering that gainful employment isn't the only thing in life. That they can perhaps be just as useful to society and themselves by travelling across the land or around the world, learning more about humanity and going through the various experiences which will make their adulthood more productive.”

People Thinking World Young Humanity Land Various Employment Around The World Productive Discovering Things In Life Adulthood Learning More

Author:Pierre Trudeau

“I think it's good that you test the reality that surrounds you in your neighbourhood with the reality as it is in other parts of the world; you come up with a better judgment. I'm not meaning that literally you can only do that and not go to school at all but in terms of enrichment of a personality I think it's a fabulous thing.”

Thinking World Reality School Term Personality Judgment Tests Come Up Surround Fabulous Enrichment Neighbourhoods

Author:Pierre Trudeau

“Canadians should realise when they are well off under the Monarchy. For the vast majority of Canadians, being a Monarchy is probably the only form of government acceptable to them. I have always been for parliamentary democracy and I think the institution of Monarchy with the Queen heading it all has served Canada well.”

Thinking Should Wells Government Form Democracy Institutions Majority Queens Canada Realising Acceptable Loyal Monarchy Headings Forms Of Government Parliamentary Parliamentary Democracy

Author:Pierre Trudeau

About the Author

Born: October 18, 1919
Died: September 28, 2000
Known for: Former Prime Minister of Canada
Quotes: 130

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Books & Sources

MemoirsRelated source material

Pierre Elliott TrudeauRelated source material

Against the Current: Selected Writings 1939-1996Related source material

Approaches to PoliticsRelated source material

Conversation with CanadiansRelated source material

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