The proverb is also used allusively, especially of other nationalities. Cf. Fr. grattez le Russe et vous trouverez le Tartare, scratch the Russian and you will find the Tartar (attributed to Napoleon).
Very true the saying is, ‘Scratch the Russian and find the Tartar.’
[1823 J. Gallatin Diary 2 Jan. (1914) 229]
They say, if you scratch a Russian you always find the Tartar beneath.
[c 1863 J. R. Green in Notes & Queries (1965) CCX. 348]
Scratch a Puerto Rican and you find a Spaniard underneath, so the language and home customs of Spain prevail here.
[1899 F. A. Ober Puerto Rico xii.]
Until a short time ago the aphorism, ‘Scratch a Russian and you find a Tartar,’ was the sum of British comprehension of the Russian character.
[1911 Spectator 2 Dec. 964]
Scratch a Pole and you find a Pole, even if he is a Communist.
[1947 J. Flanner in New Yorker 31 May 6]
Mao‥discovered many years ago that you only had to scratch a Russian Communist to find a Tatar.
[1967 D. Bloodworth Chinese Looking Glass xxxiv.]
Related to: human nature; national characteristics
Bibliography of major proverb collections and works cited from modern editions is available here.
