Eugene Pottier Quotes

A collection of quotes by Eugene Pottier.

Eugene Pottier (1816-1887) was a French poet and politician who played a significant role in the labor movement of the late 19th century. Born on October 4, 1816, in Paris, France, Pottier was a trained woodworker who became involved in radical politics during the tumultuous years of the French Revolution of 1848.

Pottier joined the Paris Commune in 1871, a short-lived revolutionary government that existed for a few months before its suppression by the French army. During his involvement with the Commune, Pottier wrote the well-known socialist anthem "L'Internationale" (The Internationale), which would later become one of the most famous songs of the labor movement.

After the defeat of the Paris Commune, Pottier was imprisoned and sentenced to death, but his sentence was later commuted to deportation to New Caledonia. He spent several years in exile before returning to France in 1880.

Throughout his life, Pottier remained an active member of the socialist movement, advocating for workers' rights and social justice. He continued writing poetry, often focusing on themes of class struggle and the plight of the working class.

Eugene Pottier passed away on November 6, 1887, in Paris, leaving behind a legacy as a poet and songwriter whose works inspired generations of socialists and labor activists.