Jacques Delors Quotes & Sayings (Page 3)

“I cannot resign myself to the decline of Europe, and of France.”

“This desire for equity must not lead to an excess of welfare, where nobody is responsible for anything.”

“The problem of how we finance the welfare state should not obscure a separate issue: if each person thinks he has an inalienable right to welfare, no matter what happens to the world, that's not equity, it's just creating a society where you can't ask anything of people.”

“Fundamentally, American society is composed of individuals who don't go out of their way to do each other favours.”

“The European model is in danger if we obliterate the principle of personal responsibility.”

“I would not be opposed to devising a new system of pensions, in which one part was based on collective provision, but which also gave incentives for people to take out an additional, personal plan.”

“My presidential victory, if it had happened, would have been artificial in relation to the Socialist party. It may be that on my deathbed, I will come to regret my decision, but for the moment, I live at peace with it.”

“We have to struggle against the conservatives from all sides, not only the right-wingers, but also the left-wing conservatives who don't want to change anything.”

“If you don't have collective agreements between unions and employers, governments have to legislate more.”

“For me, socialism has always been about liberty and solidarity, but also about responsibility.”