Top Ten Quotes: France and the French

Apparently I offended many people in my Jon Winokur interview by publishing this Vichyous attack on the French:

Question: Is there any hope for the French?

Answer: The French will always be the French. That’s both the bad news and the good news. What the British entertainer Ivor Novello said over 50 years ago is still true: “There’s something Vichy about the French.”

To make amends, I asked Jon to compile his top ten quotes about France. He couldn’t.

1. France is the most civilized country in the world and doesn’t care who knows it. John Gunther

2. France is a nation devoted to the false hypothesis on which it then builds marvelously logical structures. Gore Vidal

3. France has neither winter nor summer nor morals—apart from these drawbacks it is a fine country. Mark Twain

4. How can anyone govern a nation that has 240 different kinds of cheese? Charles de Gaulle

5. Dogs smoke in france. Ozzy Osbourne

6. We always have been, we are, and I hope that we always shall be, detested in France. Duke of Wellington

7. What I gained by being in France was learning to be better satisfied with my own country. Samuel Johnson

8. Everything is on such a clear financial basis in France. It is the simplest country to live in. No one makes things complicated by becoming your friend for any obscure reason. If you want people to like you, you have only to spend a little money. Ernest Hemingway

9. France is the only country where the money falls apart, and you can’t tear the toilet paper. Billy Wilder

10. They aren’t much at fighting wars anymore. Despite their reputation for fashion, their women have spindly legs. Their music is sappy. But they do know how to whip up a plate of grub. Mike Royko

11. The French probably invented the very notion of discretion. It’s not that they feel that what you don’t know won’t hurt you; they feel that what you don’t know won’t hurt them. To the French lying is simply talking. Fran Lebowitz

12. Every Frenchman wants to enjoy one or more privileges; that’s the way he shows his passion for equality. Charles de Gaulle

13. If the French were really intelligent, they’d speak English. Wilfrid Sheed

14. Germans with good food. Fran Lebowitz

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Comments

[tom]

"I wouldn't worry too much Guy, after all the French never worry about offending everybody else with their disrespect for everything that isn't French...."
That's pretty funny coming from an american with your oh so famous open mindness, language skills and re-elected president... Indeed some have met arrogant frenchmen and I've met ignorant americans but as we say in France:
"Y'a des cons partout" => There are idiots everywhere

[James]

Sad to see that being anti-french has beome such a disease in America. I'm waiting to see some asian jokes on your blog next.

[Jean Marie Ragus]

Hi:

Just surfing on google looking for French quotations and look what I found! I Lived in France ( Paris) many years ago when I was a student and have fond memories. Yes I met many arrogant people but when they saw I had a genuine interest in their culture friendships and respect developed. If a French student went to school in New York, what would be their impression? Both countries are arrogant and self absorbed.Remember we would never have won the revolution without their support.

[Anonymous]

“Going to war without France is like going deer hunting without your accordion.”

General Norman Schwartzkopf

[Alysia]

you are all just dumb Americans that have nothing better to do than make fun of the French because you are jealous of how much better they are. Face it, the French are just better in every way.

[olivier blanchard]

We can't be expected to be master cheese makers, wine makers, bakers and cooks... AND actually run a country, can we? ;D

[david]

There is no hell, there is only France. -- Frank Zappa

[Eric Corl]

Classic. France also has one of the lowest rates of entrepreneurial activity in the world given it's absurd labor laws and socialist culture so I'm not surprised you despise France. True entrepreneurs can't endorse the country.
Eric Corl $

[Malcolm McLelland]

What a wonderful quote you've found:

"The French probably invented the very notion of discretion. It’s not that they feel that what you don’t know won’t hurt you; they feel that what you don’t know won’t hurt them. To the French lying is simply talking." Fran Lebowitz

I've ancestors who are French, an a number of friends who are French (six to be exact, both Canadian and European) and the quote gives an excellent insight into their perspective and everyday discourse! In fact, my Dear Old Mother quite often exhibits this particular aspect of French character.

I think if others understood this aspect of French character, we would see them in a very different light ... and we could understand their way of communicating does not really use "lies" per se. They simply believe there are circumstances where it does no one any good to focus on pathologies; they are in fact a very positive, optimimstic people.

[Julien]

Je suis Francais et je trouve cela plutot amusant, si au moins les japonais savaient ce que l'on dit d'eux... ;)

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Vous êtes le rare qui peut voir l'humeur quand il est là : -)

Guy

[Tj Arthur]

Political correctness and over-sensitivity run amok amongst the commenters. Funny stuff, and that's appropriate anytime, despite their persnickety responses from these few.

[Dipesh Batheja]

Aniti-publicity is still the publicity!

[Christophe Lauer [MS]]

Thanks Guy for giving me a chance to post a comment on your blog! I've been waiting for this moment for so much time ;)

First, I think that this post is just another proof that your famous definition of the term "blogger" is right : "Someone with nothing to say writing for someone with nothing to do".

As we all can see, there are a lot of Frenchmen commenting this post, including me.

Why? It's only because we have so much free time. You forgot an 11th quote about how lazzy we are. You now, we have a law here that limits our working hours to 35 per week.

I think you're all just jealous. Nothing more ;)

If you want to know more about Frenchmen and understand us, I think you should visit Vinvin's website called "Bonjour America!" where he tries to explain our differences to you, our northern American fellows. Here you go:
http://www.bonjour-america.com/

Enjoy ;)

Nota: Please activate your "humor" mode when reading this comment.

[Jordan]

One thing the French are ahead of you on, Guy, is that they've moved on from deconstructionism to poststructuralism.

Making fun won't win you many friends, now will it? This is more than absurd, this is inane.

[cedric]

Great! The humor is lost on me and I feel insulted. I guess I need to "lighten up", but you are much better with self-deprecating humor (a great quality lacking in France unfortunately).

[steven]

For what it's worth, I'm american and do like the French people. So before everyone gets all pissy just realize we're all still human and at the end of the day we are more alike than different in the basic needs/wants of our lives.

It's actually quite funny to see how easily people are polarized over statements, and I find this social dynamic quite interesting as I'm sure Guy does as well.

[W.P. Wily]

"It smoked the fitted carpet..."

You just have to love those automatic translators. Sheer poetry.

[chmike]

For those who seek other source of inspiration on startups, funding and the art of start, I recommend the following site ... as a complement to reading Guy's blog of course.
http://paulgraham.com/articles.html

Guy, I really liked your video on "Is advertising dead ?". You showed us your best profile. Continue the good job and lighten up ! ;-)

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Chmike,

Thanks for the feedback. If I get any lighter, I'll float off the ground. :-)

Guy

[Nadiyah]

I lived in Paris for 6 months.

What I found most interesting: we seem to have a bigger problem with the French than they do with us. Why it that?!

Over here (LA to be exact), the media would have you believe that the french are over there plotting their next ploy to prove just how anti-american they really are. When honestly, they (the french) could care less.

They like their way of life. They enjoying living. And they have no desire to adopt our way of life (aside from some economic issues that some believe are a direct result of socialist tendencies). And that pisses us off.

ADMIT IT!!! :)

[Nab]

Like Ch Tronche, I definitely recommend the book : "Sixty Million Frenchmen Can't Be Wrong: Why We Love France but Not the French", by Jean-Benoit Nadeau and Julie Barlow.

[Adam]

My own personal favorite quote about the French is the classic English ditty:

The French are a funny race
They fight with their feet
And F*ck with their face

[Roger]

Where is the great evangelist? If you really want to make amends, assuming that it's necessary, try to give your own opinion about Jon's answer. Guy, I'm sure you have an opinion, isn't it?

[Seb]

Hey, maybe American people can go the cheese school to better understand the french joie de vivre: http://www.cheeseschoolsf.com/
Only in the US...

[Ch. Tronche]

France is a good product to market, and with the help of Guy, we get one more proof here: it polarizes people, as some readers have noticed.

As a French (and a regular reader of this blog), I must say I'm an exception. These postings are just humor, and we French love to laugh.

To understand French, I'd like to recommend "Sixty Million Frenchmen Can't Be Wrong: Why We Love France but Not the French", by Jean-Benoit Nadeau and Julie Barlow. It contains a few factual errors, in particular the legislative framing of the relations between the executive and legislative branches. However, it's entertaining and well observed. I must say that having this outside view taught me things about my own country.

[jbp]

Hi Guy,

Thank you for your comment on my website.
Hope you understand this is just a game for me. Your translation is pretty good. I'll be glad to welcome you if you have the opportunity to come in France. You'll see, as a French proverb says "everything ends with songs" (maybe because we eat and drink before...).

Kind regards.

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I understand. It's a game for all of us. No trips planned to France right now. Let me know if you get to Silicon Valley.

Guy