M. and Mme. Joseph Prudhomme

Monsieur and Madame Prudhomme were a pair of French caricature characters of the 19th century, created by Henry Monnier.

Two examples of Prudhomme's pontification are: « C’est l’ambition qui perd les hommes.

Si Napoléon était resté officier d’artillerie, il serait encore sur le trône » (It's ambition that destroys men.

If Napoleon had remained an artillery officer, he would still be on the throne) and « La nature est prévoyante : elle fait pousser la pomme en Normandie sachant que c'est dans cette région qu'on boit le plus de cidre » (Nature is far-sighted: it makes apples grow in Normandy knowing that it's in that region that people drink the most cider).

Sacha Guitry wrote a play in 1931 called “Monsieur Prudhomme a-t-il vécu?”, freely inspired by Monnier’s life, and relating to the genesis of the character.