Since I will only have crawled back from Strasbourg a few hours ago, I’m scheduling another blog before I leave to go up in my absence. Here are a few sayings about France and the French that you might enjoy!
An old saying: Raise your right hand if you like the French…. Raise both hands if you are French. Anon
Everything ends this way in France – everything. Weddings, christenings, duels, burials, swindlings, diplomatic affairs – everything is a pretext for a good dinner. Jean Anouilh
France, mother of arts, of warfare, and of laws. Joachim du Bellay
In France, cooking is a serious art form and a national sport. Julia Child
If it were not for the government, we would have nothing to laugh at in France.
Sébastien-Roch Nicolas de Chamfort 1741-94
How can anyone govern a nation that has 240 different kinds of cheese? Charles de Gaulle
I cannot prevent the French from being French. Charles de Gaulle
France is revolutionary or she is nothing at all. Alphonse Marie Louis de Lamartine
The French never allow a distinguished son of France to lack a statue. Edward V Lucas
Going to war without France is like going deer hunting without your accordion. Norman Schwarzkopf
And a few French proverbs:
The worst is not always certain but it’s very likely.
There is no such thing as a pretty good omelette.
Impossible isn’t French.
If you lie down with dogs you get up with fleas.
Don’t wake up a sleeping cat.
Those who resemble, assemble.
There is no pillow so soft as a clear conscience.
People count up the faults of those who keep them waiting.
If you enjoyed those sayings, go to http://www.culture.gouv.fr/documentation/proverbe/pres.htm for another 25,000 proverbs (in French)!
What great quotes. My husband loved this one, “Going to war without France is like going deer hunting without your accordion. Norman Schwarzkopf.”
BTW, I lived in Strasbourg for one year when I was a stagiare at “Le Conseil de L’Europe.” Wonderful times in my twenties.
You must have had an incredible time there! What an interesting thing to do. It’s a fabulous city – a different world from our part of rural France. More about our road trip tomorrow!
How about this one: “A Frenchman is an Italian in a bad mood.” Jean Cocteau.
I hope your Strasbourg trip went well. No doubt we’ll hear about it soon.
Well done for keeping up the posting, even when not there!
Amicalement,
Vanessa
I’ll add that to my list of good quotes! Thanks!