France can be, in the words of the French writer Sylvain Tesson "un paradis peuplé de gens qui se croient en enfer" - heaven inhabited by people think they live in hell - and it's often the first instinct of French people to complain about their country, rather than praise it.
But that doesn't mean that they are not proud of their culture, heritage and art de vivre - or even their reputation for complaining.
A new study by international research institute the Pew Centre places France high among the rankings of nations whose inhabitants express pride in the country.
The survey involved some 30,000 people in 25 states around the world, 10 of which in Europe, with researchers creating demographically targeted groups.
Here's what the French respondents said made them feel proud;
History (and politics and philosophy)
France was the second-highest-ranked country for people saying they felt proud of their history, with 22 percent of people expressing these sentiments.
But while foreigners might admire France's beautiful châteaux and well-preserved historic sites, for the French people themselves it was their history of ideas that was the source of the greatest pride.
Frequently cited was the Declaration of the Rights of Man and the Citizen, the document produced at the time of the French Revolution that has been hugely influential in other countries and organisations creating their own charters on human rights.
One French woman said she was proud of the “history and worldwide influence” of her country, specifically its “commitment to human rights.”
And a French man praised the democratic legacy of the French Revolution, saying he was proud of “having guillotined [and] overthrown the monarchy".
Political freedoms such as the right to freedom of expression also scored highly, with France coming joint top in this category, as one 68-year-old man explained, "we have the right to express ourselves and dress the way we want.
"We have the right to criticise our employer, the government, politicians, our neighbours, everyone."
An 80-year-old man added: "This is the land of declarations of human rights", while the French motto of Liberté, Egalité, Fraternité was frequently cited as a source of pride.
A 45-year-old man concluded that he was proud of: "The spirit of the Enlightenment and all that comes from it - science, culture, progress. The prestige of the education system and all the scientific spirit that emanates from it. The diversity of culture, landscapes, heritage and agriculture. The richness of the regions and French values: liberty, fraternity etc.”
While a 53-year-old woman said, "I’m proud of our history, what we represent on the international stage, and our health care system, even if it’s not perfect. [It is] a beautiful country with a lot of diversity."
When it comes to the current government, however, sentiment was less positive, with one man saying: "We’ve got a democracy that’s not working well, a democracy that’s not respected, public services that are getting worse with time, a democracy that’s become a plutocracy.”
Similarly, just 9 percent of French people said they are proud of their economy, although several people cited pride in the country's health and social care system.
Lifestyle
French people were also likely to be proud of their lifestyle, with one respondent mentioning the 'savoir-vivre' or the art of living.
A further 20 percent also said they were proud of the country's natural beauty, with the mountains and coastlines mentioned as being especially lovely.
Culture
France came third among the countries surveyed for people expressing pride in culture - both the culture itself and the knowledge surrounding it, as one respondent flagged up pride in "the craftsmen and craftswomen who rebuilt Notre Dame” after the cathedral's devastating fire in 2019.
France's cultural influence on the world was also cited as a source of pride - but younger French people were twice as likely to cite culture as a source of pride than their elders.
Overall 26 percent of French people said they are proud of their country's culture with French cinema, literature, fashion and craftsmanship the biggest sources of pride.
One 74-year-old woman said: “Its history, its heritage, its culture. Let France be the land of light. Let it be a breeding ground for great minds."
Food and drink
It's one of the first things that strikes foreigners about France, and French people, too, are proud of their food and drink.
In the survey, Italians were more likely to express pride in their national cuisine, followed by France and Mexico tied in second place, and Spain fourth.
It's not just the produce available, it's the priority that is given to food and drink within daily life, as one French man put it "knowing how to enjoy good wine and cheese", or as a woman said "drinking wine or beer on a café terrace".
The study surveyed people from Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Israel, Italy, Mexico, the Netherlands, Nigeria, Poland, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Turkey, the UK, Japan, South Korea, the USA, India, Indonesia and Kenya.
What do you think the French should be proud of about their country? Share your views in the comments section below
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