--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: France cannot be destroyed. She is an old…" description: "\"France cannot be destroyed. She is an old country who, despite her misfortunes, has, and always will have, thanks to her past, a tremendous prestige in..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/633/pierre-laval-40204_country_france-cannot-be-destroyed-she-is-an-old_2009516.jpg" --- # France cannot be destroyed. She is an old country who… ![“France cannot be destroyed. She is an old country who, despite her misfortunes, has, and always will have, thanks to her past, a tremendous prestige in the world, whatever the fate inflicted upon her.” quote by Pierre Laval](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/633/pierre-laval-40204_country_france-cannot-be-destroyed-she-is-an-old_2009516.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/633/pierre-laval-40204_country_france-cannot-be-destroyed-she-is-an-old_2009516.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/633/pierre-laval-40204_country_france-cannot-be-destroyed-she-is-an-old_2009516.jpg) > “France cannot be destroyed. She is an old country who, despite her misfortunes, has, and always will have, thanks to her past, a tremendous prestige in the world, whatever the fate inflicted upon her.” [Pierre Laval](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-laval/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He asserts France's enduring prestige despite hardships, attributing it to historical legacy and resilience. **In simple terms:** France will always be prestigious because of its history. Key Takeaway Recognize and protect cultural heritage. Themes national pride resilience history Mood reflective optimistic Type historical patriotic When to use this quote - political rallies - educational curricula - tourism promotion Key Concepts cultural identity legacy perseverance Questions to Reflect On - What aspects of France's past should be celebrated? - How can past prestige guide future policies? A Different Perspective Overlooking current social issues can romanticize the past. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Country](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/country/) [Fate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fate/) [France](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/france/) [Misfortunes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/misfortunes/) [Old Country](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/old-country/) [Past](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/past/) [Prestige](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prestige/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [“Why do these big old country houses always have family portraits in the dining room? Do you really want to eat with someone's gloomy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-jane-howard/why-do-these-big-old-country-houses-always-have-family-portraits-in/) [Elizabeth Jane Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-jane-howard/) > [“Oh, it is true enough. I may as well be hung for a sheep as a lamb (an old country saying, not of much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-hardy/oh-it-is-true-enough-i-may-as-well-be-hung-for-a-sheep-as-a-lamb-an/) [Thomas Hardy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-hardy/) > [“All across Italy, as Parasecoli tells me, food is used to identify who is Italian and who is not. But dig a little deeper…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-bittman/all-across-italy-as-parasecoli-tells-me-food-is-used-to-identify-who/) [Mark Bittman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-bittman/) > [I've been a fan of old country music, like Willie Nelson, Patsy Cline. I think I'm drawn to it because of the sense of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-mclachlan/i-ve-been-a-fan-of-old-country-music-like-willie-nelson-patsy-cline-i/) [Sarah McLachlan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-mclachlan/) > [Other days, other ways; and, although they have now been greatly improved upon, the old country midwives did at least succeed in bringing into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/flora-thompson/other-days-other-ways-and-although-they-have-now-been-greatly/) [Flora Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/flora-thompson/) > [“The German deli was run by a distant cousin of Kaiser Wilhelm and the Great Neck Jews loved the place; they flocked to Kuch's.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-bloom/the-german-deli-was-run-by-a-distant-cousin-of-kaiser-wilhelm-and-the/) [Amy Bloom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-bloom/) > [The world changes fast, and a lot of the old country folks have a hard time keeping up with it, and it makes them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-isbell/the-world-changes-fast-and-a-lot-of-the-old-country-folks-have-a-hard/) [Jason Isbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-isbell/) > [“Meanwhile direct your attention to the three gentlemen at the door: they are conversing. 1st Gent. — Who’s the man of the house —…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/meanwhile-direct-your-attention-to-the-three-gentlemen-at-the-door/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [There is here, what is not in the old country. In spite of hard, unfamiliar things, there is here - hope. In the old…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betty-smith/there-is-here-what-is-not-in-the-old-country-in-spite-of-hard/) [Betty Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betty-smith/) > [“many of us, as immigrants—or our parents or our grandparents—had chosen to leave our pasts behind just as the Goldens were now choosing, encouraging…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salman-rushdie/many-of-us-as-immigrants-or-our-parents-or-our-grandparents-had/) [Salman Rushdie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salman-rushdie/) > [There is no Thanksgiving back in the old country where I come from. You know why? Because being thankful is a sin.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-ferguson/there-is-no-thanksgiving-back-in-the-old-country-where-i-come-from/) [Craig Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-ferguson/) > [“She had that emigrant’s sadness—she would never go back to her old country—it was gone in more senses than one—but she was forever gazing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colum-mccann/she-had-that-emigrant-s-sadness-she-would-never-go-back-to-her-old/) [Colum McCann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colum-mccann/) > [I see Americans of every party, every background, every faith who believe that we are stronger together: black, white, Latino, Asian, Native American; young,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/i-see-americans-of-every-party-every-background-every-faith-who/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [“Here, he felt like a stranger in a strange- and extremely seductive- land. In contrast to the places of his past, Bella Vista seemed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-wiggs/here-he-felt-like-a-stranger-in-a-strange-and-extremely-seductive/) [Susan Wiggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-wiggs/) > [Are you really into pop? Are you really into old country? Blues? If you're not honest about your influences, then things don't sound as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frankie-ballard/are-you-really-into-pop-are-you-really-into-old-country-blues-if-you/) [Frankie Ballard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frankie-ballard/) ## More by Pierre Laval > [But the same intelligence compels Germany to practise the same policy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-laval/but-the-same-intelligence-compels-germany-to-practise-the-same-policy/) [Pierre Laval](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-laval/) > [In the event of a victory over Germany by Soviet Russia and England, Bolshevism in Europe would inevitably follow. Under these circumstances I would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-laval/in-the-event-of-a-victory-over-germany-by-soviet-russia-and-england/) [Pierre Laval](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-laval/) > [It is in order that France may find her place in the new Europe that you will respond to my appeal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-laval/it-is-in-order-that-france-may-find-her-place-in-the-new-europe-that/) [Pierre Laval](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-laval/) > [We have given most of Europe to Hitler. Let us try to hold on to what we have got left.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-laval/we-have-given-most-of-europe-to-hitler-let-us-try-to-hold-on-to-what/) [Pierre Laval](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-laval/) > [I defy anyone - and I have said this to the Germans - to build a solid, articulated, and viable Europe without France's consent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-laval/i-defy-anyone-and-i-have-said-this-to-the-germans-to-build-a-solid/) [Pierre Laval](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-laval/) > [Workers of France, it is for the freedom of the prisoners that you will go to work in Germany! It is for our country…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-laval/workers-of-france-it-is-for-the-freedom-of-the-prisoners-that-you/) [Pierre Laval](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-laval/) > [I am a peasant from the Auvergne. I want to keep my farm, and I want to keep France. Nothing else matters now.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-laval/i-am-a-peasant-from-the-auvergne-i-want-to-keep-my-farm-and-i-want-to/) [Pierre Laval](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-laval/) > [I want to tell you that I think this war is a great mistake.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-laval/i-want-to-tell-you-that-i-think-this-war-is-a-great-mistake/) [Pierre Laval](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-laval/) > [It is neither the statesman nor the friend who is asking your help and assistance, but simply the man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-laval/it-is-neither-the-statesman-nor-the-friend-who-is-asking-your-help/) [Pierre Laval](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-laval/) > [I feel that an understanding could be reached with Germany which would result in a lasting peace with Europe and believe that a German…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-laval/i-feel-that-an-understanding-could-be-reached-with-germany-which/) [Pierre Laval](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-laval/) [Explore all 11 Pierre Laval quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-laval/) ## More Country quotes > [I love playing for my country, getting the support. Especially for the kids and everybody, showing my example of what I can achieve so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-sharapova/i-love-playing-for-my-country-getting-the-support-especially-for-the/) [Maria Sharapova](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-sharapova/) > [ That country \[Carthage\] was rapidly sinking into the state of barbarism from whence it had been raised by the Phoenician colonies and Roman laws;… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-gibbon/that-country-carthage-was-rapidly-sinking-into-the-state-of-barbarism/) [Edward Gibbon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-gibbon/) > [If my campaign is not in the debate, we will not be talking about how we really fix this problem of endless and expanding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-stein/if-my-campaign-is-not-in-the-debate-we-will-not-be-talking-about-how/) [Jill Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-stein/) > [For the Scottish government, the practice of having meetings in different parts of the country is well established, but for the U.K. government, it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicola-sturgeon/for-the-scottish-government-the-practice-of-having-meetings-in/) [Nicola Sturgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicola-sturgeon/) > [There's no reason someone who has fought for their country should be homeless of jobless.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-kyle/there-s-no-reason-someone-who-has-fought-for-their-country-should-be/) [Chris Kyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-kyle/) > [The image of blacks usually is one of people who are suffering from hunger, unemployment, and poverty. The idea of them as agents and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grace-lee-boggs/the-image-of-blacks-usually-is-one-of-people-who-are-suffering-from/) [Grace Lee Boggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grace-lee-boggs/) > [It's very nice to be a rebel saying, 'I stand on my principles,' but if in fact that's not going to have any impact…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dominic-grieve/it-s-very-nice-to-be-a-rebel-saying-i-stand-on-my-principles-but-if/) [Dominic Grieve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dominic-grieve/) > [Most paper money initially existed as a substitute for gold. That's what gave it value. But right now what gives a currency value is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-schiff/most-paper-money-initially-existed-as-a-substitute-for-gold-that-s/) [Peter Schiff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-schiff/) > [That's what this country is. It's made up of immigrants.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bria-vinaite/that-s-what-this-country-is-it-s-made-up-of-immigrants/) [Bria Vinaite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bria-vinaite/) > [You, of Canada, are building a magnificent record of achievement. My country rejoices in it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwight-d-eisenhower/you-of-canada-are-building-a-magnificent-record-of-achievement-my/) [Dwight D. Eisenhower](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwight-d-eisenhower/) > [The United States cannot and should not discriminate on the basis of religion. The free exercise of religion is at the very heart of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-pence/the-united-states-cannot-and-should-not-discriminate-on-the-basis-of/) [Mike Pence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-pence/) > [The reason I was drawn to the Band Perry was because they have a knack for doing rollicking country music that can sound a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phoebe-robinson/the-reason-i-was-drawn-to-the-band-perry-was-because-they-have-a/) [Phoebe Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phoebe-robinson/) > [In the nineteenth century some parts of the world were unexplored, but there was almost no restriction on travel.:; Up to 1914 you did…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-orwell/in-the-nineteenth-century-some-parts-of-the-world-were-unexplored-but/) [George Orwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-orwell/) > ['Lovecraft Country' is reclaiming all these pulp genres for people of color.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/misha-green/lovecraft-country-is-reclaiming-all-these-pulp-genres-for-people-of/) [Misha Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/misha-green/) > [No judge can stop us from praying for our country and I pray that on May 6, millions of Americans will join me in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-graham/no-judge-can-stop-us-from-praying-for-our-country-and-i-pray-that-on/) [Franklin Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-graham/) [Browse all 29,881 Country quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/country/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "France cannot be destroyed. She is an old country who, despite her misfortunes, has, and always will have, thanks to her past, a tremendous prestige in the world, whatever the fate inflicted upon her.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Pierre Laval" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-laval/france-cannot-be-destroyed-she-is-an-old-country-who-despite-her/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Country" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-laval/france-cannot-be-destroyed-she-is-an-old-country-who-despite-her/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/633/pierre-laval-40204_country_france-cannot-be-destroyed-she-is-an-old_2009516.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/633/pierre-laval-40204_country_france-cannot-be-destroyed-she-is-an-old_2009516.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/633/pierre-laval-40204_country_france-cannot-be-destroyed-she-is-an-old_2009516.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“France cannot be destroyed. She is an old country who, despite her misfortunes, has, and always will have…” — Pierre Laval", "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": "Pierre Laval", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-laval/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "France cannot be destroyed. She is...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-laval/france-cannot-be-destroyed-she-is-an-old-country-who-despite-her/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-laval/france-cannot-be-destroyed-she-is-an-old-country-who-despite-her/#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 } } ] } ```