Question: what do the colors in french flag represent

title: Flag of France
text: On 25 February 1848 Lamartine , during the Revolution of 1848 , said about the Tricoloured Flag : `` I spoke as a citizen earlier , Now listen to me , your Foreign Minister . If I remove the tricolor , know it , you will remove me half the external force of France ! Because Europe knows the flag of his defeats and of our victories in the flag of the Republic and of the Empire . By seeing the red flag , they 'll see the flag of a party ! This is the flag of France , it is the flag of our victorious armies , it is the flag of our triumphs that must be addressed before Europe . France and the tricolor is the same thought , the same prestige , even terror , if necessary , for our enemies ! Consider how much blood you would have to make for another flag fame ! Citizens , for me , the red flag , I am not adopting it , and I 'll tell you why I 'm against with all the strength of my patriotism . It 's that the tricolor has toured the world with the Republic and the Empire with your freedoms and your glory , and the red flag was that around the Champ - de-Mars , dragged into the people 's blood '' .