es of
nature,[2121] accomplish the destinies of humanity, and fulfill the
promises of philosophy".--"Our purpose," says Robespierre,[2122] "is
to substitute morality for egoism, honesty for honor, principles for
custom, duties for etiquette, the empire of reason for the tyranny of
fashion, contempt of vice for indifference to misfortune, pride for
arrogance, a noble mind for vanity, love of glory for the love of
profit, good people for high society, merit for intrigue, genius for
intellectual brilliancy, the charm of contentment for the boredom of
voluptuous pleasure, the majesty of Man for the high-breeding of
the great, a magnanimous, powerful and happy people for an amiable,
frivolous and wretched people, that is to say, every virtue and miracle
of the Republic in the place of the vices and absurdities of the
monarchy."

We will do this, the whole of it, whatever the cost. Little do we care
for the present generation: we are working for generations to come.

"Man, forced to isolate himself from society, anchors himself in
the future and presses to his heart a posterity innocent of existing
evils."[2123]

He sacrifices to this work his own and the lives of others.

"On the day that I am persuaded," writes Saint-Just, "that it is
impossible to render the French people kind, energetic, tender and
relentless against tyranny and injustice, I will stab myself."

--"What I have done in the South I will do in the North," says Baudot;
"I will convert them into patriots; either they or I must die."--

"We will make France a cemetery," says Carrier, "rather than not
regenerate it our own way."

In vain may the ignorant or the vicious protest; they protest because
they are ignorant or vicious. In vain may the individual plead his
personal rights; he has none: through the social contract, which is
obligatory and solely valid, he has surrendered his entire being; having
made no reservation, "he has nothing to claim." Undoubtedly, some will
grumble, because, with them, the old wrinkle remains and artificial
habits still cover over the original instinct. Untie the mill-horse, and
he will still go round in the same track; let the mountebank's dog be
turned loose, and he will still raise himself on his hind-legs; if we
would bring them back to their natural gait we must handle them roughly.
In like manner, to restore Man to his normal attitude, you must handle
him roughly. But, in this respect, have no scruples,[2124] for we d