The phrase "When France sneezes, the rest of Europe catches a cold" is attributed to Prince Klemens von Metternich, the Austrian diplomat and statesman. Metternich was deeply concerned with the political instability caused by revolutionary movements, particularly the French Revolution, which he believed had the potential to spread to the rest of Europe. His remark reflects the idea that political changes in France—especially revolutionary ones—would have far-reaching effects across Europe, inspiring similar movements in other countries. Metternich’s diplomacy played a key role in the efforts to suppress revolutionary movements during the early 19th century.