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I have had some problems because the French don't like people to have success, they don't like the number one.

I don't feel like I have to be nationalistic French because I'm afraid of losing whatever. No, no, no, no. And also I don't think we are the best.

I'm ready to become a French person amongst French people, and more than ever I have the love for my country deeply ingrained in my heart.

I don't feel guilty about expressing myself in French; nor do I feel that I am continuing the work of the colonizers.

My name, my origins, my background and my experiences are what leveraged my success. The angle of the immigrant, through which I examined the reality in France, distinguished me.

By the way, the secret of speaking French is confidence. Whether you are right or wrong, you don't hesitate.

When you succeed, at a certain point, you want to challenge yourself. Otherwise, you become boring. You become a has-been. It's not very interesting. I don't want to be this guy who has only succeeded in France. I could say, 'O.K., that's it; merci.' But I'm not interested in that.

I won't wait until the end of my term to say I made mistakes at the beginning. That's too late. I will try to adopt the proper behaviour, if the French give me the chance, right from the start.

To be successful in my native France, where people speak the same language and understand me, is nothing.

My heart has always been truly convinced that in serving the cause of America, I am fighting for the interests of France.