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Learn French with a podcast snippet! This clip is from Géopolitique Episode from 20 April 2015: “Le drame des réfugiés et les questions à nous poser”. Listen and fill in what you hear below. Read more and find a translation below. Find the full podcast here.
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The above audio sample and transcription is from Géopolitique Episode from 20 April 2015. We do not own the content. The opinions expressed in this podcast snippet are the speaker’s own. We do not own this content, it is for learning purposes only. Listen to the entire episode here.
All the rest
It’s interesting to hear the expression, “all the rest is words and bandages”. I wonder if this is the speaker’s own expression, or if it’s similar to “thoughts and prayers” in the US. Which is an “action” for politicians without having to do anything except say or tweet. Not to get too political, simply wondering from a linguistic and cultural POV, of course! Below is one interpretation of “mots et pansements”.
I don’t want to get into the political, but it is tough with a piece like this. This person has a lot of opinions. Then again, every talk show in France seems to show so many very-opinionated people. Again, observing.
I’m less opinionated, some people call me diplomatic. Simply looking to connect with people in this world, in the short years we’re here. I’m open to others opinions, but seldom get too opinionated.
That’s also what brings me to languages, the more I can learn about other cultures, and connect with people across borders, the more interesting life seems to be. It’s part of the adventure.
This podcast is a bit of older news, but still an interesting listen. Please note, the opinions expressed in this voice essay are not mine, I just want to use it for learning purposes.
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The clip in English
Find a translation of this audio snippet here, how much of this did you hear?
La réponse, la seule, la vraie, est qu’on ne limitera ces flux qu’en s’attaquant à leur cause, qu’en réduisant l’anarchie en Libye, pays d’où partent la plupart de ces bateaux, et qu’en s’attelant à résoudre les conflits à l’origine des guerres proche-orientales. Tout le reste n’est que mots et pansements, moyens de se donner bonne conscience avant de repasser à autre chose et là se pose la troisième question.
The answer, the only true one, is that these flows can only be limited by tackling their cause, by reducing the anarchy in Libya, the country from which most of these boats leave, and by working to resolve the conflicts at the root of the wars in the Middle East. All the rest is just words and band-aids, a way to ease one’s conscience before moving on to something else, and therein lies the third question.
The above French text translated with Deepl.
What does “ces flux” mean?
“Ces flux” means “these flows” or “these streams”, and it’s often used in abstract or technical contexts—economics, information, biology, or even social behavior.
Ces flux d’information sont constants. (These flows of information are constant.)
Refers to continuous movement or circulation—here, of data.
Ces flux migratoires ont augmenté cette année. (These migration flows increased this year.)
Used in a geopolitical or demographic sense to describe groups of people moving.
Ces flux hormonaux influencent notre comportement. (These hormonal flows influence our behavior.)
In a scientific or medical context, it refers to internal processes.
Culturally and stylistically, flux is a high-register word—not poetic, but analytical or conceptual. In modern French, it’s especially common in fields like media, tech, and psychology, where things are dynamic, moving, and hard to contain. Saying ces flux evokes systems in motion, often too large or complex to fully control.
What does “s’attaquant” mean?
“S’attaquant” is the present participle of the reflexive verb s’attaquer à, meaning “attacking”, “taking on”, or “tackling” something.
It comes from se + attaquer à, which literally means to attack oneself to [something], but idiomatically it means to confront, deal with, or go after a challenge, issue, or target.
Un gouvernement s’attaquant aux inégalités sociales. (A government tackling social inequalities.)
Here, s’attaquant à suggests actively engaging with a difficult or systemic problem.
Il passe ses journées à s’attaquer aux problèmes techniques. (He spends his days dealing with technical problems.)
Implies effort, challenge, and a kind of confrontation—not necessarily aggression, but commitment.
Culturally, s’attaquer à often carries the sense of taking something seriously or head-on—whether it’s a reform, a social issue, or even a personal goal. It’s more forceful than s’occuper de (to take care of) and suggests initiative + resistance.
What does “la plupart” mean?
“La plupart” means “most” or “the majority”, and it’s used to refer to the greater part of a group—people, things, or abstract ideas.
La plupart des gens sont d’accord. (Most people agree.)
Used with des + plural noun to indicate a general majority.
La plupart ont déjà vu ce film. (Most have already seen this film.)
Can also stand alone as a subject when the group is understood from context.
La plupart du temps, je travaille à la maison. (Most of the time, I work from home.)
Here, it refers to time, not people or things.
Culturally, la plupart is neutral and widely used in both speech and writing. It’s always singular in form (la), but it’s often followed by plural verbs, since it refers to multiple things or people. French learners often get tripped up by this mix of singular article + plural meaning, but it’s standard.
What does “s’attelant à résoudre” mean?
“S’attelant à résoudre” comes from the reflexive verb s’atteler à, which means “to tackle”, “to set oneself to”, or “to get down to work on” something. It suggests committed, focused effort.
So s’attelant à résoudre means “setting about solving” or “working on resolving”.
Un gouvernement s’attelant à résoudre la crise énergétique. (A government working to resolve the energy crisis.)
Grammatically, this is a present participle construction—used to describe someone or something in the process of doing something, often in complex or formal speech or writing.
Compared to s’attaquer à résoudre, which implies a bit more confrontation or struggle, s’atteler à résoudre has a tone of determined, methodical effort—like someone rolling up their sleeves and getting to work. It’s commonly used in journalism, policy, and academic writing.
What does “proche-orientales” mean?
“Proche-orientales” is the feminine plural form of the adjective proche-oriental, meaning “Middle Eastern.” It comes from le Proche-Orient—the French term for the Middle East, specifically the eastern Mediterranean region (like Lebanon, Syria, Israel/Palestine, Jordan, etc.).
Les cultures proche-orientales ont influencé la Méditerranée. (Middle Eastern cultures have influenced the Mediterranean.)
It agrees in gender and number with the noun it modifies:
- Un plat proche-oriental (a Middle Eastern dish)
- Des musiques proche-orientales (Middle Eastern music styles)
Note on terminology:
- Proche-Orient = Middle East (especially Levantine countries)
- Moyen-Orient is also used and often overlaps in meaning, but can include a broader area (e.g., Gulf states, Iran).
In practice, Moyen-Orient is more common in modern media, while proche-oriental(e) still appears in cultural, historical, or academic contexts.
So proche-orientales is correct and specific, especially when referring to cultural traits, languages, or traditions from that region.
What does “mots et pansements” mean?
“Mots et pansements” literally means “words and bandages”, and the pairing is poetic and metaphorical, not a fixed expression.
Mot = word
Pansement = bandage, dressing (for a wound)
So when someone says mots et pansements, they’re likely linking language to healing—as in, words that soothe, words that cover wounds, or emotional repair through speech.
Elle lui a offert des mots et des pansements. (She offered him words and bandages.)
→ Suggests comfort, care—maybe emotional support alongside practical help.
This kind of pairing is often found in literature, lyrics, or reflective writing, where language is seen as medicine—a soft, human way to deal with pain.
It’s not a standard idiom, but it’s instantly understandable to French speakers thanks to the evocative contrast between the abstract (mots) and the physical (pansements).
What does “bonne conscience” mean?
“Bonne conscience” means “clear conscience” or “feeling morally at ease”, but it often carries a subtle or even ironic edge, especially in modern usage.
Il agit pour se donner bonne conscience. (He acts to ease his conscience.)
→ Suggests the action might be more about self-justification than genuine conviction.
Elle a une bonne conscience, malgré tout ce qu’elle a ignoré. (She has a clear conscience, despite all she ignored.)
→ Can hint at denial or selective awareness.
In some contexts, bonne conscience is positive, meaning peace of mind or knowing you’ve done the right thing. But often, especially with verbs like se donner, it implies a superficial or self-serving sense of morality—doing just enough to feel okay, without addressing the deeper issue.
Culturally, it’s a common phrase in political and social commentary, where it critiques performative ethics—actions done less out of conviction, more to maintain one’s inner comfort.
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Improve your ear for French with this clip from Geopolitique. 69 words in 22 seconds, how many can you hear? Take our quiz and improve your French listening skills.
Take the quiz, join the conversation.
Did you find this one challenging or easy? Did you hear something diffferent? What surprised you? What levels did you complete? Comment below and share what’s opening up for you with this quiz.
