At the time of the Monica Lewinsky scandal in 1998, CBS News aired a lighthearted report on the French and their attitude toward infidelity.
D'ORMESSON: The whole French culture has love at its center, and perhaps cheating.
CBS REPORTER: Cheating is that important?
D'ORMESSON: Ah, cheating, cheating - let us say "looking elsewhere."............
Each time you cheat, you marry the new woman in America. And we keep the same wife and we have several mistresses. Roughly speaking, that's the position between your culture and ours...........
When you are well brought up, you try to cheat without too much harm, perhaps......... We cheat in so many, many, many hundred years that now you know how to manage. Don't try. It's very difficult, you know?
CBS REPORTER: You have to be French?
D'ORMESSON: You have to be French.
CBS REPORTER: Are you serious?
D'ORMESSON: Yes.
Sist sett
