Abstract: The goal of this work lies in determination of similarities and differences in characteristic of freedom in the quotes and aphorisms of French and Russian aging politicians of the late XX century. The subject of this research is the semantics of French and Russian quotes and aphorisms that reveal the nature of freedom in the compared languages. The topic of the characteristic of freedom in the speeches of aging politicians was selected as it did not receive due attention within comparative linguistics. Using the material of French and Russian quotes and aphorisms, the author determines the aspects for outlining the characteristic of freedom in form of thematic groups of these lexical unites in the compared languages. The scientific novelty consists in the fact that this work is first to reveal similarities and differences of the characteristics of freedom in the popular quotes and aphorisms of French-language and Russian-language aging politicians of the XX century. The conclusion is made on the presence of the following similarities: didactic manner in their appeal to the public, interest in blissful future of their countries, resemblance of their life and professional experience in the speech. Some difference were also detected. The uniqueness of composition of the compared characteristics of freedom is associated with the specificities of historical development of France and Russia of that time, which outlines the prospects of research on this topic. The acquired results may be valuable in giving a course of lectures on comparative lexicology of French and Russian languages, elaboration of methodology for analyzing speech of senior citizens in the comparative aspect.