It was always said that the big distinction between the French and the English is that the English are intelligent and the French are intellectual.
quote by Kenneth Baker
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Related quotes
Two cows deconstruct Derrida
These two cows were ruminating
and one says, I was listening
to the milkmaid’s transistor
and this French philosopher
was explaining that there’s
no English translation of the French word
‘betise’ except ‘stupidity’ but
‘stupidity’ only refers to man
where the French ‘betise’ means
to behave like an animal…
and the other cow says
well what’s wrong with that
and the first cow says
well his point is, English cows
can’t be stupid; only man
can be stupid..
and the other cow says
well that’s a relief then
so does that mean that French cows
can be stupid
and the first cow says
no because they don’t have a word for it
in French
so the other cow says
so then is it better to be
an English cow
that can’t be stupid
or a French cow
that can’t be called stupid
and the first cow says
who cares, I’ve always said
the French ruminate too much
and then talk bullshit…
and the other cow says
I’m glad I’m a Jersey
what about that French milkmaid
I call sexyhands but
the farmer sometimes calls
a silly cow I wonder what
Derrida would say about that
poem by Michael Shepherd
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Battle of the Herrings
A fishing action
North of France
1429 took place
Cause of battle
French vs. English
Anticipation/baited breath
River – flat plain
Set up strategy
Hook/line/sinker
British attacked first
French were slow
English bombarded fish
French did not
want to get
their shoes wet
Were most certain
outflanked by British
French counter attacked
Used Brie instead
of slippery worms
Won the fishing
competition – yelled Viva’
la fishermen French
“What was that”?
asked the English
“What’s the matter
with you cockneys
Hard of Herring? ”
'2008'
poem by Robert Sheridan
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Oh, I'm not English, I cannot talk on behalf of an English person. I'm French. I can say about French. They are quite emotional, though, and they talk about their emotions.
quote by Sophie Marceau
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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I never had to learn English, French and German because I was brought up as all three languages. I had a private French teacher before I even went to school. That helped a lot.
quote by Karl Lagerfeld
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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The more English is heard in the world, the more gratifying it seems to speak French, and above all to know the culture of our country. They find a kind of French social grace in the language and culture.
quote by Bernard Pivot
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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I had art as a major, along with English, French and History. I had dance, modern dance. In English I was allowed to write my own poetry, which I eventually got published.
quote by Sally Kirkland
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Everything depends on whether we have for opponents those French tricksters or those daring rascals, the English. I prefer the English. Frequently their daring can only be described as stupidity. In their eyes it may be pluck and daring.
quote by Manfred von Richthofen
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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I met my wife through playing golf. She is French and couldn't speak English and I couldn't speak French, so there was little chance of us getting involved in any boring conversations - that's why we got married really quickly.
quote by Sean Connery
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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French novels generally treat of the relations of women to the world and to lovers, after marriage; consequently there is a great deal in French novels about adultery, about improper relations between the sexes, about many things which the English public would not allow.
quote by Lafcadio Hearn
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Picnic in the rain
The rain was pouring down,
we set out for the park,
children in the back seat,
mothers in the front.
Picnic baskets packed,
tasty treats for all
we took a big umbrella
we'd need before nightfall.
A bottle of red for Al',
a can of beer for Jan
some Pepsi for young Josie
and a flask of tea for Anne.
Our French students came with us
spitting out French words,
oh la la and non, non, non
was plainly what we heard.
Zees mad English people
z'ey go out in zee rain,
we don't understand them
what zat they zey say again?
A streaker ran right by us,
I saw his ample cheeks,
well what else would I see
that might well rhyme with streak?
I tried to shade the children's eyes
but they were having none,
ooh la la, he's naked
look at his red bum!
We had a grand ol' afternoon
and then the sun came out.
Puddles dried up rapidly
and sun cream up did sprout.
So next time when it's pouring
we'll do it all again!
We're English, mad as hatters
and we picnic in the rain.
poem by Ruth Walters
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Even if I think in English, it's more a language of acting than French.
quote by Sophie Marceau
Submitted by Veronica Serbanoiu
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The Divinity could be invoked as well in the English language as in the French.
quote by Wilfrid Laurier
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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The great watershed of modern poetry is French, more than English.
quote by Robert Morgan
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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The English was really my mother, it was never me. Being the daughter of my father, I always felt very French.
quote by Charlotte Gainsbourg
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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The English are predisposed to pride, the French to vanity.
quote by Jean Jacques Rousseau
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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A New Pilgrimage: Sonnet VIII
I will sit down awhile in dalliance
With my dead life, and dream that it is young.
My earliest memories have their home in France,
The chestnut woods of Bearn and streams among,
Where first I learned to stammer the French tongue.
Fair ancient France. No railroad insolence
Had mixed her peoples then, and still men clung
Each to his ways, and viewed the world askance.
We, too, as exiles from our northern shore,
Surveyed things sparsely; and my own child's scorn
Remained, how long, a rebel to all lore
Save its lost English, nor was quite o'erborne
Till, as I swore I'd speak no French frog's word,
I swore in French, and so laid down my sword.
poem by Wilfrid Scawen Blunt
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yes, what if God does not speak english at all?
you were not born yesterday
and probably heard it before
that if your God does not speak english
then he must not be God
of course, something arrogant
hangs in the air
of this effortless superiority that
'englishers'
'english-plongplangs'
clai m, which, of course, we
always oppose and dub
as prettry dumb silly
but anyhow, yes, we are asked again
what if?
what if, this God, does not really speak English?
well, of course, he is still God
and he must not have considered the english language
that important
and i agree, even if i speak it,
i still have this language
of my soul,
albeit, in english, for you,
who does not speak my own language,
yes, of course, for you to perhaps
understand,
but i like it though, this thought
that God does not speak
the english language, lest, he may sound
so englishly, oh well,
arrogant.....
dear God
do you really...not speak english?
poem by Ric S. Bastasa
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I unfortunately don't speak French, but my wife is now fluent in English, which really reflects rather badly on me.
quote by Sean Connery
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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I speak English, so I am no longer cute. My tongue itches for French.
Theatre has no national identity. It is something for the world, whether it is Irish, English, or French.
quote by Cyril Cusack
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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