37 Mind-Blowing Quotes By Maximilien Robespierre
Maximilien Robespierre was an eminent French politician and lawyer. He was one of the most influential figures associated with the ‘Reign Of Terror’ and the ‘French Revolution’. He served as a member of the ‘Committee of Public Safety’. The writings and thoughts of Jean-Jacques Rousseau greatly influenced Robespierre which developed strong moral values in him. Robespierre advocated the quashing of slavery and also opposed death penalty. He also became the President of the powerful Jacobin political faction. A controversial figure, Robespierre was a capable articulator and his thoughts, words, views and opinions are still quoted broadly. Following is a list of quotes and sayings by Maximilien Robespierre that will give you a glimpse of his political thoughts.
Omelets are not made without breaking eggs.
You can't make an omelet without breaking a few eggs.
Atheism is aristocratic; the idea of a great Being that watches over oppressed innocence and punishes triumphant crime is altogether popular.
The secret of freedom lies in educating people, whereas the secret of tyranny is in keeping them ignorant.
To punish the oppressors of humanity is clemency; to forgive them is cruelty.
The king must die so that the country can live.
A true revolutionary should be ready to perish in the process
A sensibility that wails almost exclusively over the enemies of liberty seems suspect to me. Stop shaking the tyrant's bloody robe in my face, or I will believe that you wish to put Rome in chains.
No one loves armed missionaries.
The general will rules in society as the private will governs each separate individual.
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.
Our revolution has made me feel the full force of the axiom that history is fiction and I am convinced that chance and intrigue have produced more heroes than genius and virtue.
Pity is treason.
Any law which violates the inalienable rights of man is essentially unjust and tyrannical; it is not a law at all.
Any institution which does not suppose the people good, and the magistrate corruptible, is evil.
Softness to traitors will destroy us all.
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.
Terror is nothing more than justice, prompt, secure and inflexible.
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. Is force made only to protect crime
It is with regret that I pronounce the fatal truth: Louis ought to perish rather than a hundred thousand virtuous citizens; Louis must die that the country may live
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.
![One can...never create [freedom] by an invading force.](https://www.wisdomly.net/images/quotes/maximilien-robespierre-82719.jpg)
One can...never create [freedom] by an invading force.
The aim of constitutional government is to preserve the Republic; that of revolutionary government is to lay its foundation.
Terror is nothing else than justice, prompt, severe, inflexible.
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.
By sealing our work with our blood, we may see at least the bright dawn of universal happiness.
When a Banker jumps out of a window, jump after him - that's where the money is.
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.
Again, it may be said, that to love justice and equality the people need no great effort of virtue; it is sufficient that they love themselves.
The revolutionary government owes to the good citizen all the protection of the nation; it owes nothing to the Enemies of the People but death.
