---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: What I do see, for instance, is that the…"
description: "\"What I do see, for instance, is that the French are not very happy with the ... I am happy but they are not and I understand why they are not happy. Th..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/674/helmut-schmidt-23706_believe_what-i-do-see-for-instance-is-that-the-f_729796.jpg"
---

#  What I do see, for instance, is that the French are not…

![“What I do see, for instance, is that the French are not very happy with the ... I am happy but they are not and I understand why they are not happy. They still believe in some nuclear strategic formulas which they have inherited from General De Gaulle and they have started the process of…” quote by Helmut Schmidt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/674/helmut-schmidt-23706_believe_what-i-do-see-for-instance-is-that-the-f_729796.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/674/helmut-schmidt-23706_believe_what-i-do-see-for-instance-is-that-the-f_729796.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/674/helmut-schmidt-23706_believe_what-i-do-see-for-instance-is-that-the-f_729796.jpg)

> “What I do see, for instance, is that the French are not very happy with the ... I am happy but they are not and I understand why they are not happy. They still believe in some nuclear strategic formulas which they have inherited from General De Gaulle and they have started the process of rethinking, they haven't gone very far.”

[Helmut Schmidt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helmut-schmidt/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

He observes French dissatisfaction with inherited nuclear strategies, noting limited progress in rethinking them.

**In simple terms:** France is unhappy with old nuclear plans and is only beginning to reconsider.

Key Takeaway

Encourage open debate on strategic policies.

Themes

politics defense national security

Mood

analytical critical

Type

political strategic

When to use this quote

- government negotiations
- public discourse
- military planning

Key Concepts

strategic doctrine policy reform

Questions to Reflect On

- What barriers prevent France from fully revising its nuclear stance?
- How can allies support constructive reform?

A Different Perspective

Change may be slow due to institutional inertia.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Believe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believe/) [Believe Nuclear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believe-nuclear-437846/) [Formulas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/formulas/) [French](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/french/) [French Happy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/french-happy-5719072/) [Gaulle Started](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gaulle-started-5719073/) [General Gaulle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/general-gaulle-2270121/) [Gone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gone/) [Havens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/havens/) [Instance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/instance/) [Not happy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/not-happy/) [Nuclear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nuclear/) [Process](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/process/) [Rethinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rethinking/) [Stills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stills/) [Strategic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/strategic/) [Very happy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/very-happy/)

## Related quotes

> [“The Jackal was perfectly aware that in 1963 General de Gaulle was not only the President of France; he was also the most closely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-forsyth/the-jackal-was-perfectly-aware-that-in-1963-general-de-gaulle-was-not/)

[Frederick Forsyth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-forsyth/)

> [ “General \[De Gaulle\], you must not hate your friends more than you hate your enemies” ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clementine-churchill/general-de-gaulle-you-must-not-hate-your-friends-more-than-you-hate/)

[Clementine Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clementine-churchill/)

> [General de Gaulle was a thoroughly bad boy. The day he arrived, he thought he was Joan of Arc and the following day he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-d-roosevelt/general-de-gaulle-was-a-thoroughly-bad-boy-the-day-he-arrived-he/)

[Franklin D. Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-d-roosevelt/)

> [General de Gaulle is again pictured in our newspapers, looking as usual like an embattled codfish.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-townsend-warner/general-de-gaulle-is-again-pictured-in-our-newspapers-looking-as/)

[Sylvia Townsend Warner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-townsend-warner/)

> [France had a policy, initiated by General de Gaulle, of trying to turn Europe into what was then called a 'third force,' independent of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/france-had-a-policy-initiated-by-general-de-gaulle-of-trying-to-turn/)

[Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/)

> [I believe nuclear energy in Jordan will be done in such a way where it is a public-private partnership so everyone can see exactly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-believe-nuclear-energy-in-jordan-will-be-done-in-such-a-way-where/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Many foolish people believe that nuclear war cannot happen, because there can be no winner. However, the American war planners, who elevated U.S. nuclear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-craig-roberts/many-foolish-people-believe-that-nuclear-war-cannot-happen-because/)

[Paul Craig Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-craig-roberts/)

> [I believe that a nuclear Iraq can change its fundamental dynamic, affecting how others behave - toward us and toward allies such as Israel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandy-berger/i-believe-that-a-nuclear-iraq-can-change-its-fundamental-dynamic/)

[Sandy Berger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandy-berger/)

> [If you have created the fifth generation of atomic bombs and are testing them already, what position are you in to question the peaceful…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahmoud-ahmadinejad/if-you-have-created-the-fifth-generation-of-atomic-bombs-and-are/)

[Mahmoud Ahmadinejad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahmoud-ahmadinejad/)

> [I firmly believe that nuclear war is absolutely impossible. I don't think anyone in the world wants a nuclear war - not even the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-sinatra/i-firmly-believe-that-nuclear-war-is-absolutely-impossible-i-don-t/)

[Frank Sinatra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-sinatra/)

> [Why are the people who are most alarmist about climate change so opposed to the technologies that are solving it? One possibility is that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-shellenberger/why-are-the-people-who-are-most-alarmist-about-climate-change-so/)

[Michael Shellenberger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-shellenberger/)

> [We do not believe that a nuclear war should be fought and we do not believe that a nuclear war can be won.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/atal-bihari-vajpayee/we-do-not-believe-that-a-nuclear-war-should-be-fought-and-we-do-not/)

[Atal Bihari Vajpayee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/atal-bihari-vajpayee/)

> [It is such a supreme folly to believe that nuclear weapons are deadly only if they're used. The fact that they exist at all,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arundhati-roy/it-is-such-a-supreme-folly-to-believe-that-nuclear-weapons-are-deadly-2/)

[Arundhati Roy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arundhati-roy/)

> [It is such a supreme folly to believe that nuclear weapons are deadly only if they're used.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arundhati-roy/it-is-such-a-supreme-folly-to-believe-that-nuclear-weapons-are-deadly/)

[Arundhati Roy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arundhati-roy/)

> [Someone else who liked what I did might turn around and say, "She's reworking and rethinking everything. She could just be making blankets now,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracey-emin/someone-else-who-liked-what-i-did-might-turn-around-and-say-she-s/)

[Tracey Emin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracey-emin/)

## More by Helmut Schmidt

> [People who have visions should go see a doctor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helmut-schmidt/people-who-have-visions-should-go-see-a-doctor/)

[Helmut Schmidt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helmut-schmidt/)

> [If somewhere is a deficiency the normal American answer would have been well then, let's spend some more money, build some more weapons and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helmut-schmidt/if-somewhere-is-a-deficiency-the-normal-american-answer-would-have/)

[Helmut Schmidt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helmut-schmidt/)

> [ \[Ronald\] Reagan seems to be a man of some basic convictions and on the other hand willing to let others do the ground homework,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helmut-schmidt/ronald-reagan-seems-to-be-a-man-of-some-basic-convictions-and-on-the/)

[Helmut Schmidt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helmut-schmidt/)

> [I have had and still do have every confidence in Paul Nitze, a man whom I have known for decades, one of the wisest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helmut-schmidt/i-have-had-and-still-do-have-every-confidence-in-paul-nitze-a-man/)

[Helmut Schmidt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helmut-schmidt/)

> [Population growth and the proliferation of mega-cities around the world redefines the entire global security agenda.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helmut-schmidt/population-growth-and-the-proliferation-of-mega-cities-around-the/)

[Helmut Schmidt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helmut-schmidt/)

> [Some of the American military obviously were thinking in terms of fighting a nuclear war. I was opposed to that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helmut-schmidt/some-of-the-american-military-obviously-were-thinking-in-terms-of/)

[Helmut Schmidt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helmut-schmidt/)

> [Ronad Reagan might go down to history as a man who in the end of this administration brought about the first nuclear arms reduction…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helmut-schmidt/ronad-reagan-might-go-down-to-history-as-a-man-who-in-the-end-of-this/)

[Helmut Schmidt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helmut-schmidt/)

> [ President \[Ronald\] Reagan never has tried to become an expert on military matters. He never has endeavored to learn the most important details in… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helmut-schmidt/president-ronald-reagan-never-has-tried-to-become-an-expert-on/)

[Helmut Schmidt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helmut-schmidt/)

> [ President \[Ronald\] Reagan told me he would negotiate and negotiate and negotiate with the Soviets, and I believed him. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helmut-schmidt/president-ronald-reagan-told-me-he-would-negotiate-and-negotiate-and/)

[Helmut Schmidt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helmut-schmidt/)

> [The catch word is equilibrium again, informed the field what are conventional weapons or nuclear weapons of different qualities. You cannot make up for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helmut-schmidt/the-catch-word-is-equilibrium-again-informed-the-field-what-are/)

[Helmut Schmidt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helmut-schmidt/)

> [Political leaders normally act by making convincing speeches.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helmut-schmidt/political-leaders-normally-act-by-making-convincing-speeches/)

[Helmut Schmidt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helmut-schmidt/)

> [I have talked about the deterioration of the atmosphere between Washington and Moscow. It was quite clear that in the year 1980, which at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helmut-schmidt/i-have-talked-about-the-deterioration-of-the-atmosphere-between/)

[Helmut Schmidt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helmut-schmidt/)

> [I think that the solution of the question of numerical superiority of Russian conventional forces has to be solved.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helmut-schmidt/i-think-that-the-solution-of-the-question-of-numerical-superiority-of/)

[Helmut Schmidt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helmut-schmidt/)

> [I've never been a classic Gaulist! Not a Gaulist at all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helmut-schmidt/i-ve-never-been-a-classic-gaulist-not-a-gaulist-at-all/)

[Helmut Schmidt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helmut-schmidt/)

> [I hate the idea that someone think the destruction of Chicago as strategic affair, the destruction of Hamburg as a tactical one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helmut-schmidt/i-hate-the-idea-that-someone-think-the-destruction-of-chicago-as/)

[Helmut Schmidt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helmut-schmidt/)

[Explore all 22 Helmut Schmidt quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helmut-schmidt/)

## More Believe quotes

> [I actually think acting is a form of self-hypnosis. You have to be hyper, hyper aware of what's going on around you. You have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianne-moore/i-actually-think-acting-is-a-form-of-self-hypnosis-you-have-to-be/)

[Julianne Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianne-moore/)

> [Some people still believe you should just fall in line with what's going on - and that's scary. It makes a mockery of freedom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-robison/some-people-still-believe-you-should-just-fall-in-line-with-what-s/)

[Emily Robison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-robison/)

> [The truth seems to be that propaganda on its own cannot force its way into unwilling minds; neither can it inculcate something wholly new;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/the-truth-seems-to-be-that-propaganda-on-its-own-cannot-force-its-way/)

[Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/)

> [Resist discouragement by speaking His Word over your future. Keep standing. Keep hoping; keep believing because He is working behind the scenes. He's going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-osteen/resist-discouragement-by-speaking-his-word-over-your-future-keep/)

[Joel Osteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-osteen/)

> [I can't believe that I'm sitting in meetings with Steven Spielberg, Tom Hanks, and Annette Bening. I want to take on that responsibility to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ross-williams/i-can-t-believe-that-i-m-sitting-in-meetings-with-steven-spielberg/)

[Roger Ross Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ross-williams/)

> [There is no such word as item girl in the dictionary. People have created this word and I don't believe that I am an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shefali-zariwala/there-is-no-such-word-as-item-girl-in-the-dictionary-people-have/)

[Shefali Zariwala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shefali-zariwala/)

> [I understand that it's the music that keeps me alive... That's my lifeblood. And to give that up for, like, the TV, the cars,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/i-understand-that-it-s-the-music-that-keeps-me-alive-that-s-my/)

[Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/)

> [I don't really like too much credit. I know nobody's going to believe this, but I'd rather be able to score goals and nobody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bradley-wright-phillips/i-don-t-really-like-too-much-credit-i-know-nobody-s-going-to-believe/)

[Bradley Wright-Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bradley-wright-phillips/)

> [“What I have a problem with is not so much religion or god, but faith. When you say you believe something in your heart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penn-jillette/what-i-have-a-problem-with-is-not-so-much-religion-or-god-but-faith/)

[Penn Jillette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penn-jillette/)

> [Bush reiterated his stand to conservatives opposing his decision on stem cell research. He said today he believes life begins at conception and ends…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/bush-reiterated-his-stand-to-conservatives-opposing-his-decision-on/)

[Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/)

> [Never underestimate the power of the human mind to believe what it wants to believe, no matter the conflicting evidence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-herbert/never-underestimate-the-power-of-the-human-mind-to-believe-what-it/)

[Brian Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-herbert/)

> [To believe in love, to be ready to give up anything for it, to be willing to risk your life for it, is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-dicaprio/to-believe-in-love-to-be-ready-to-give-up-anything-for-it-to-be/)

[Leonardo DiCaprio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonardo-dicaprio/)

> [That's why I don't generally talk about endorsements because I don't believe we have to tell people who to vote for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-iii/that-s-why-i-don-t-generally-talk-about-endorsements-because-i-don-t/)

[Martin Luther King III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-iii/)

> [Mankind have been slow to believe that order reigns in the universe-that the world is a cosmos and a chaos.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-a-garfield/mankind-have-been-slow-to-believe-that-order-reigns-in-the-universe/)

[James A. Garfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-a-garfield/)

> [We instantly believe everything we think. Isn't that insane? It's good for us to explore the depravity of our minds, so we know we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/krishna-das/we-instantly-believe-everything-we-think-isn-t-that-insane-it-s-good/)

[Krishna Das](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/krishna-das/)

[Browse all 47,704 Believe quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believe/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "What I do see, for instance, is that the French are not very happy with the ... I am happy but they are not and I understand why they are not happy. They still believe in some nuclear strategic formulas which they have inherited from General De Gaulle and they have started the process of rethinking, they haven't gone very far.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Helmut Schmidt"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helmut-schmidt/what-i-do-see-for-instance-is-that-the-french-are-not-very-happy-with/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Believe"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helmut-schmidt/what-i-do-see-for-instance-is-that-the-french-are-not-very-happy-with/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/674/helmut-schmidt-23706_believe_what-i-do-see-for-instance-is-that-the-f_729796.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/674/helmut-schmidt-23706_believe_what-i-do-see-for-instance-is-that-the-f_729796.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/674/helmut-schmidt-23706_believe_what-i-do-see-for-instance-is-that-the-f_729796.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“What I do see, for instance, is that the French are not very happy with the ... I am happy but they are not…” — Helmut Schmidt",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Helmut Schmidt",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helmut-schmidt/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "What I do see, for instance,...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helmut-schmidt/what-i-do-see-for-instance-is-that-the-french-are-not-very-happy-with/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helmut-schmidt/what-i-do-see-for-instance-is-that-the-french-are-not-very-happy-with/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
