"Let Them Eat Cake", History Tidbits & Pictorial Morsels

The Famous Words Marie Antoinette Did NOT Say. Although the young princess of France is associated with this phrase, it was actually first written by philosopher Jean-Jaques Rousseau in reference to the large gap between the rich and the poor in society at that time. And when he had written this (around 1766), Marie Antoinette was only 10 years old, not yet the Queen of France, not for another 4 years anyway.

The actual phrase written in French is "Qu'ils mangent de la brioche", brioche being less fancy than cake (but still quite delicious if we might add). The brioche has been around as far back as the middle ages and consists of plenty of eggs and butter.



Image Credits: Marie Antoinette in Muslin Dress, Still Life With Brioche painted by Jean Baptiste Siméon Chardin. Modern imagery from We♥It