The better I get to know men, the more I find myself loving dogs.

Hear now the words of Charles de Gaulle, soldier, statesman, and leader of a nation torn by war: “The better I get to know men, the more I find myself loving dogs.” At first it strikes the ear as a jest, a simple quip from one wearied by politics and the treacherous games of power. Yet beneath its surface lies a truth older than kingdoms: that in the faithfulness of animals, we sometimes glimpse the purity that humanity, in its pride and strife, too often forgets.

For what is man? He is a creature of reason, but also of ambition, envy, and deceit. History is strewn with broken promises, betrayals of trust, and the bitterness of selfish pursuits. De Gaulle, who led France through war and exile, saw this darkness firsthand. He tasted the frailty of human loyalty in times of crisis, when men turned against one another, when nations crumbled, when allies wavered. Against this backdrop of frailty, the dog, humble and steadfast, shines like a beacon of simple virtue. Its love does not falter; its trust does not bend with the winds of advantage.

Think upon the countless stories where dogs have shown greater fidelity than kings or comrades. In Japan, the tale of Hachikō is told: a dog who waited at the train station every day for his master, even after the man’s death. For ten long years, Hachikō returned to the same place, his body aging, his eyes dimming, but his loyalty unbroken. What statesman, what soldier, what ruler has shown such unyielding devotion? De Gaulle’s words echo this truth: that where men often abandon, the dog endures.

Yet his saying is not a condemnation of mankind alone, but a reminder of the contrast between human weakness and animal innocence. For in loving dogs, we are reminded of what humanity ought to be—faithful, steadfast, unselfish. The dog holds no grudge, asks no riches, seeks no crown. Its wealth is the warmth of companionship, its joy is the presence of its master. If men could but love one another with even a fraction of such sincerity, the world would be changed beyond recognition.

De Gaulle himself, hardened by the tempests of history, perhaps sought in dogs the comfort that men had denied him. After battles fought and alliances strained, it is easy to see why the silent loyalty of a four-footed friend might shine brighter than the empty words of courtiers and politicians. Thus the quote is not merely humor, but a confession of a wounded heart—a soldier who had seen too much of man’s corruption, and longed for the purity of unfeigned love.

And yet, let us not despise mankind, but learn. The lesson is clear: if we admire the dog for its constancy, let us imitate it in our own lives. Let us be loyal in friendship, faithful in love, and steadfast in times of trial. Let us guard those entrusted to us, as a dog guards his master’s home. In this way, we take the wisdom of the beast and raise it to the dignity of man.

So I say to you: love dogs, for they remind us of virtues we forget. But love also your fellow men, and strive to become as faithful as the creatures you admire. Do not betray for gain, do not falter when storms come, do not abandon those who trust you. In a world full of deceit, be the one who stands true. This is the teaching hidden in the jest of a general—that loyalty is the highest crown, and that to love like a dog is to walk in the noblest path of all.