The Outcome of Physical Education: The Débrouillard as King

1902 July — Revue du Pays de Caux

“And now,” you will say, “what will all this trouble and worry I have had lead to? To make my sons acrobats? I do not want that. To consolidate their health forever? Am I quite sure of that, and besides, would not a healthy and regular existence have been enough for that?… No, these are not the effects you should congratulate yourself on having achieved. Your sons will not be acrobats, nor will you have made them invulnerable. But you will have made them débrouillards, and in the modern world — do not fail to reflect on this — the débrouillard is king. This is the essential quality of the free man of the 20th century. There are great uncertainties around him, nothing stable, in short. Try to ensure that he has at least within himself the supreme certainty of a fine capital of strength and an army of well trained and obedient servants.”

Context:

• Coubertin reframes the goal of physical education away from spectacle or perfect health toward real world competence and resilience.

• Débrouillardise is positioned as the supreme educational outcome, far more valuable than athletic prowess or superficial strength.

• The “servants” Coubertin references are metaphorical, representing disciplined internal resources: body, instincts, habits, and skills.

Thematic Implications:
This passage presents Coubertin’s clearest and most complete endorsement of the débrouillard as the foundation for:

• Sovereignty through self discipline

• Stability through internal mastery

• Practical adaptability in an unstable, fast changing world

Key Insight:
“The débrouillard is king” is not a passing phrase. It is Coubertin’s declaration that in the 20th century, leadership and freedom belong to those who cultivate resilient, versatile inner strength rather than rely on external security.