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Figuring Out The French
A Guide To Exploring French Culture And Customs

by Bob Martin

The French have a reputation for being difficult to understand. But one key to comprehending them is to be aware of how they view themselves.

The French believe they are an elite people, apart from the rest of the world. They feel their country is unequivocally the world’s best, most civilized and most beautiful. They believe their culture is superior. It was predestined to be so. They see their country and the French people as having been smiled on by God. Some even see The Hexagon as the world’s navel, the center of the world.

The idea that France and its people are special has been a major premise of French culture for centuries. Throughout history and still today they correlate themselves, their country and its history with glory and grandeur. They view France as a beacon for the world.

In the 16th century, French writer Michel Montaigne wrote, “The glory of France is one of the world’s noblest ornaments.” The famed 19th-century French author Victor Hugo wrote, “France, France, the world would be alone without you.” Hugo’s contemporary, Gustave Flaubert, defined the word French in his Collection of Common Beliefs as “The first people of the universe.”

Charles de Gaulle, leader of the Free French forces during World War II and later president of France, was fond of saying, “France is the light of the world.” He has also said that, “France cannot be France without grandeur,” and that the mission of France is “to glow with the torch of civilization.” In his 1981 inaugural address, President François Mitterrand said, “A just and generous France…can light the path of mankind.” Mitterrand later said, “Many people in this earth turn their eyes toward (France). For many of them it represents hope.”

The French see the superiority of France and things French not just as something for the benefit of those within the country’s borders. They are intended to enhance the world, for – in the French view – France has a duty to lead and civilize the world. Unlike other European colonizers who saw their imperial moves solely as a way to boost their wealth and power, France declared that theirs was a “civilizing mission.”

Clearly, the French are a strongly patriotic people, proud of their nation and things French. They have great love for their country and an abiding faith in its preeminence. Although the French have universal military service, there is practically no draft evasion. The people believe France is a fundamental force for good in the world, therefore nothing should stand in the way of its national interests.

With their strong cultural bias, the French see you, someone from another culture, as lacking one essential quality – you are not French. Since they are apart from the rest of the world, they feel that only the French can understand the French. And they take satisfaction in the idea that they are inscrutable to foreigners.

The French also have some more-down-to-earth attributes, such as being hard working, pragmatic, compassionate and independent. They are a happy, sensible people with a love for life. They are also conservative and not prone to accepting change.

The French are a private people. In public they are reserved and indifferent, lifting their veil of privacy only for family and close friends. But they do not quickly enter into friendships. Even with neighbors they are reserved and formal, and most people do not know their neighbors.

The French are democratic, seeing all as deserving of equal consideration. They still adhere to the French Revolution’s heritage of liberty, equality and fraternity.

Dignity and honor are important concepts. Honor includes not only personal honor but that of France, friends and family as well.

The French are self-assured but can be domineering. They can also be modest. If you compliment someone, he or she is more likely to minimize the reason for your praise rather than accept it by saying thank you.

They are formal, polite and courteous. People offer simple courtesies such as holding doors for one another. They are liberal in their use of the word merci (thank you).

Helpful Resources

• Culture Briefing: France gives you many more details on French culture and customs.

• Rocket French language course helps you quickly learn to speak the language confidently.

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