Any institution which does not suppose the people good, and the magistrate corruptible, is evil. Maximilien Robespierre More Quotes by Maximilien Robespierre More Quotes From Maximilien Robespierre The secret of freedom lies in educating people, whereas the secret of tyranny is in keeping them ignorant. Maximilien Robespierre tyrantslyingpeople To punish the oppressors of humanity is clemency; to forgive them is cruelty. Maximilien Robespierre clemencyforgivinghumanity Any law which violates the inalienable rights of man is essentially unjust and tyrannical; it is not a law at all. Maximilien Robespierre freedomrightsmen Terror is only justice: prompt, severe and inflexible; it is then an emanation of virtue; it is less a distinct principle than a natural consequence of the general principle of democracy, applied to the most pressing wants of the country. Maximilien Robespierre eviljusticecountry Softness to traitors will destroy us all. Maximilien Robespierre softnesstraitor The king must die so that the country can live. Maximilien Robespierre dieskingscountry We must smother the internal and external enemies of the Republic or perish with it; now in this situation, the first maxim of your policy ought to be to lead the people by reason and the people's enemies by terror. Maximilien Robespierre peopleenemyfirsts The most extravagant idea that can be born in the head of a political thinker is to believe that it suffices for people to enter, weapons in hand, among a foreign people and expect to have its laws and constitution embraced. No one loves armed missionaries; the first lesson of nature and prudence is to repulse them as enemies. Maximilien Robespierre lawbelievehands Citizens, did you want a revolution without revolution? Maximilien Robespierre revolutioncitizenswant Peoples do not judge in the same way as courts of law; they do not hand down sentences, they throw thunderbolts; they do not condemn kings, they drop them back into the void; and this justice is worth just as much as that of the courts. Maximilien Robespierre kingslawhands When a Banker jumps out of a window, jump after him - that's where the money is. Maximilien Robespierre windowbankers The aim of constitutional government is to preserve the Republic; that of revolutionary government is to lay its foundation. Maximilien Robespierre republicfoundationgovernment Terror is nothing more than justice, prompt, secure and inflexible. Maximilien Robespierre secureterrorjustice Smuggle out the truth, pass it through all the obstacles that its enemies fabricate; multiply, spread by all means possible her message so that she may triumph; through zeal and civic action counterbalance the influence of money and the machinations lavished on the propagation of deception. That, in my opinion, is the most useful activity and the most sacred duty of pure patriotism. Maximilien Robespierre deceptionmeanenemy Omelets are not made without breaking eggs. Maximilien Robespierre breaking-eggseggsmade By sealing our work with our blood, we may see at least the bright dawn of universal happiness. Maximilien Robespierre dawnmayblood It has been said that terror is the principle of despotic government. Does your government therefore resemble despotism? Yes, as the sword that gleams in the hands of the heroes of liberty resembles that with which the henchmen of tyranny are armed ... The government of the revolution is liberty's despotism against tyranny. Maximilien Robespierre governmentherohands The revolution is the war of liberty against its enemies. The constitution is the rule of liberty against its enemies. The constitution is the rule of liberty when victorious and peaceable. Maximilien Robespierre libertywarenemy Food that is necessary for man’s existence is as sacred as life itself. Everything that is indispensable for its preservation is the common property of society as a whole. It is only the surplus that is private property and can be safely left to individual commercial enterprise. Maximilien Robespierre sacredcommonmen lf the attribute of popular government in peace is virtue, the attribute of popular government in revolution is at one and the same time virtue and terror, virtue without which terror is fatal, terror without which virtue is impotent. The terror is nothing but justice, prompt, severe, inflexible; it is thus an emanation of virtue. Maximilien Robespierre revolutiongovernmentjustice
