Did Marie Antoinette remark "Let them eat cake."?

This remark, attributed to Marie Antoinette, and the only remark for which she is famous, could not have been original with her. In fact, she probably never said it at all: Alphonse Karr, writing in 1843, stated that a Duchess of Tuscan had said it in 1760 or before. Later, he said, it was circulated to discredit Marie Antoinette.

The remark occurs in the sixth book of Jean-Jacques Rousseau's "Confessions" written in 1766. Rousseau was referring to an incident that had taken place about 1740. Fifteen years before Marie Antoinette was born. "At length I recalled the thoughtless remark of a "great princess", who, when she was told the peasants had no bread, replied, "Let them eat brioche".

More Info: en.wikipedia.org

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28 Comments

Nicko John

The answer is correct. It is wrongly attributed to her.

Kathryn Cavanagh

I had heard she never said it, now I thank you for the information of who said it, and 15 years before Marie Antoinette was born. That puts it back in its rightful place.

Jim Adams

If she said anything at all it was probably in french

Alan Waites

heads will roll

ninakamwene

Bingo! Even if Marie Antoinette did not say it, the rich of the time were thinking so. It shows the disparity between the haves and the have nots in any society.

Richard G Schwartz

Got it.

Annie

🙀 wrong answer on my part!

Ian Fleming

So glad someone pointed this out! Poor woman...it is still widely attributed to her so very unfairly!

Martin Retzolk

For one thing, the original French phrase that Marie-Antoinette is supposed to have said—“Qu’ils mangent de la brioche”—doesn’t exactly translate as “Let them eat cake.” It translates as, well, “Let them eat brioche.” Of course, since brioche is a rich bread made with eggs and butter, almost as luxurious as cake, it doesn’t really change the point of the story. But the queen wouldn’t have been referring to the sort of dessert that English speakers often imagine.

Dena Barrett

This is pure speculation. This question should never have gotten through screening. There is no definative proof one way or the other. Many sources say she did, others say that while it is attributed to her, the is no evidence one way or the other. So there can't be a correct answer as this question as it is worded.

Peter Robertson

goosenbuster, Read the answer. The "goose" part of your name is correct!

Peter Robertson

Both her and her husband were not that bad.Just in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Johnny Gio

Cinda Salisbury ,l'll leave THIS AFTERNOON...

Hernando Villegas

The question is: Did Marie Antoonette remark "Let them eat cake".She had remarked, let them eat cake, though she was not the first one to to say that remark. So the answer must be YES.