"I have come to the conclusion that politics are too serious a matter to be left to the politicians"

Charles de Gaulle’s assertion that politics are too serious a matter to be left solely to politicians challenges the conventional boundaries between public officials and the societies they serve. He implies a profound skepticism towards the professional class of politicians, suggesting that governance and political decision-making are of such critical importance that their stewardship cannot be trusted exclusively to those who hold formal office. Underlying this statement is a call for broader participation, vigilance, and responsibility from citizens, intellectuals, and civil society at large.

The sentiment resonates especially in democracies, where the very legitimacy of political action flows from popular consent. By highlighting the gravity of political decisions—in shaping economies, determining rights, and affecting the lives of millions—de Gaulle argues for a more participatory political culture. Passive trust in politicians alone may foster complacency, allow incompetence or corruption to flourish, and alienate citizens from processes that determine their collective fate.

Beyond mere participation, the statement also critiques the potential limitations of career politicians: a tendency to focus on self-preservation, partisanship, or short-term electoral gains at the expense of public interest and long-term vision. Practical politics, as conducted by professionals, can sometimes become an insular game, disconnected from the broader needs, wisdom, and values of the populace. Opening the arena means inviting expertise, ethical reflection, pragmatism, and idealism from a wider array of voices.

De Gaulle’s viewpoint is at once a caution and a call to arms. It emphasizes the shared ownership of political affairs: that every citizen bears a measure of responsibility for governance, and must be alert, informed, and engaged. Only by dispersing political power and concern among the whole society can the immense stakes of political decisions be met wisely and justly.