They missed a great opportunity to shut up.

Meaning of the quote

They missed a great chance to be quiet. This quote means that someone had the perfect chance to stop talking, but they didn't take it. The person who said this, Jacques Chirac, was a French leader, and he thought the people he was talking about made a mistake by continuing to speak instead of staying silent.

About Jacques Chirac

Jacques Chirac was a prominent French politician who served as the President of France from 1995 to 2007. He previously held the positions of Prime Minister and Mayor of Paris. Chirac’s political career was marked by his stand against the Iraq War, recognition of France’s role in the deportation of Jews, and changes to the presidential term length.

More about the author

More quotes from Jacques Chirac

The construction of Europe is an art. It is the art of the possible.

Jacques Chirac

President of France from 1995 to 2007

Terrorism takes us back to ages we thought were long gone if we allow it a free hand to corrupt democratic societies and destroy the basic rules of international life.

Jacques Chirac

President of France from 1995 to 2007

They missed a great opportunity to shut up.

Jacques Chirac

President of France from 1995 to 2007

One month, two months, I am ready to accept any accord on this point that has the approval of the inspectors.

Jacques Chirac

President of France from 1995 to 2007

If we prove capable of showing a pioneering commitment, we shall create a commmunity listened to around the world.

Jacques Chirac

President of France from 1995 to 2007

When you are in the family… you have more rights than when you are asking to join and knocking on the door.

Jacques Chirac

President of France from 1995 to 2007

France will insist on the need for updated and responsive institutions.

Jacques Chirac

President of France from 1995 to 2007

If our language, our programs, our creations are not strongly present in the new media, the young generation of our country will be economically and culturally marginalized.

Jacques Chirac

President of France from 1995 to 2007

These irresponsible acts, which cannot have any justification whatsoever, are to be fully condemned. In these appalling circumstances, I want to offer you the most sincere condolences, both in my name and in that of the French people.

Jacques Chirac

President of France from 1995 to 2007

Romania and Bulgaria were particularly irresponsible. If they wanted to diminish their chances of joining Europe they could not have found a better way.

Jacques Chirac

President of France from 1995 to 2007

National Missile Defense is of a nature to retrigger a proliferation of weapons, notably nuclear missiles. Everything that goes in the direction of proliferation is a bad direction.

Jacques Chirac

President of France from 1995 to 2007

Terrorism has become the systematic weapon of a war that knows no borders or seldom has a face.

Jacques Chirac

President of France from 1995 to 2007

One can go to war alone, butyou can’t build peace alone.

Jacques Chirac

President of France from 1995 to 2007

As soon as one nation claims the right to take preventive action, other countries will naturally do the same. If we go down that road, where are we going?

Jacques Chirac

President of France from 1995 to 2007