"France is a place where the money falls apart in your hands but you can't tear the toilet paper"

This quote by Billy Wilder is a funny way of revealing the idea that, while France may be a lovely and elegant location, it can likewise be quite expensive. The expression "money falls apart in your hands" is a metaphor for how quickly money can be spent in France. The 2nd part of the quote, "you can't tear the toilet paper," is a humorous way of saying that, in spite of the expense of living, the quality of life in France is still rather high. This is because, although money may be difficult to come by, the fundamental needs of life, such as toilet paper, are still readily available. To put it simply, even though it may be pricey to live in France, the quality of life is still rather good.