The Anthropological Differences between the French and the Poles

The French and the Poles have totally forgotten the ties that once united their two countries and evidently the two nations do not understand each other, for all sorts of political and historical reasons, but also for others that relate to what was once called the “character of nations”. The truth is simply that, to use a very French rhetorical formulation: cultures are cultures.

A culture is above all an education, and the differences between French and Polish educations are as concrete as they are striking. They then form two quite distinct mentalities. One of the main things that strikes a Frenchman when dealing with the famous Slavs is obviously their emotions. The stereotype is known, but it is based on a few facts that would be good to explain.