My favorite of the most famous French phrases is: je pense donc je suis, which translates in English to : I think, therefore I am. (said by Descartes)
Why is this my favorite famous French phrase?
This is my favorite famous French phrase not because of it’s intrinsic wisdom, but for what it can tell you about the French as a people.
This French phrase assumes that whoever is not thinking, is not meant to be there.
This is very important if you want to deal with the French, especially in politics or business. If you make a statement without first thinking it over, the French assume you never made a statement in the first place.
Or in other words: if you want to agree about something with the French, you do need to argue and make sure you can clarify your statement with prove.
Other than that, the French seem to love to discuss just for the fun of passing time. That’s why you really need a good knowledge of French before the French will ever accept you is one of them, because without French: how can you discuss with them in the first place? Unfortunately, French for them is the language associated with knowledge: the better you speak French, the smarter you must be.
Next time you hear the French asking you "why", you know that’s just a normal consequence of their famous French phrase: je pense donc je suis.
