Paris: Irritable waiters huffing in cafes. A gallic shrug in a heated debate. Street protests at every new government initiative. Many may already see France as a nation of grumblers, but a new survey shows the French agree.
The poll commissioned by insurance company Maaf found that 93 per cent of French people think their compatriots grumble often, although only 37 per cent admit they tend to complain.
The older you are the more likely that you will be grouchy, with politicians being the biggest bugbear for sexagenarians.
"You have to grumble in life, otherwise you get trampled on," was the main reason given by almost one in six people in the land of liberty, equality and fraternity.
Just under one third said grousing was in the French temperament.
Men were the grumpier of the two sexes, said 43 per cent of respondents, with around one in five men saying they moaned to get what they wanted compared with 16 per cent of women.
One in four said carping was a way of relaxing.
The survey, entitled "Are the French moaners?" polled more than 1,000 people over 18 across France and was carried out by market research firm Opinionway.
The French also see themselves as the world champions of moaning. More than 70 per cent believe they outgripe the rest of the world compared with 15 per cent of Italians, four per cent of Americans and three per cent of Britons.
Banks, insurance firms and other administrative centres were the main target of gripes among those polled.
And the biggest cause of grumbles? Thirty-one per cent of women said their partners gave them the most grief -- ahead of their children, colleagues and bosses.
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