Empires, monarchies, and republics. Over the last two centuries, France has witnessed the rule of each of these forms of government, and has rejected them all, each in turn, in favor of democracy. Politeness and good manners are integral elements of French society, as are literature and learning. The French have keen recognition for an unfit ruler, and historically have not simply gotten angry, they have started revolutions. In doing so, they have proven that poetry and rebellion make for an intriguing mix.

French society has undergone profound changes in modern times. Although the nation is traditionally and officially catholic, religion no longer plays the strong role it once did. But despite social transformations having been radical with the dissolution of the nobility class, they are fairly recent. The French rarely step outside their social circles, and generally remain indifferent to those who are not apart of them. Still, the term friendship is one used less loosely amongst the French than say, for example, amongst Americans. For the most part, the term is used only to refer to the most sincere and meaningful ties.