ideas and the ravings of Marat.

First, in his own eyes, he, like Marat, is a persecuted man, and, like
Marat, he poses himself as a "martyr," but more skillfully and keeping
within bounds, affecting the resigned and tender air of an innocent
victim, who, offering himself as a sacrifice, ascends to Heaven,
bequeathing to mankind the imperishable souvenir of his virtues.[31124]

"I arouse against me the pride of everybody;[31125] I sharpen against me
a thousand daggers. I am a sacrifice to every species of hatred. ... It
is certain that my head will atone for the truths I have uttered. I have
given my life, and shall welcome death almost as a boon. It is, perhaps,
Heaven's will that my blood should indicate the pathway of my country
to happiness and freedom. With what joy I accept this glorious
destiny!"[31126]--

"It is hardly in order to live that one declares war against tyrants,
and, what is still more dangerous, against miscreants.... The greater
their eagerness to put an end to my career here below, the more eager
I shall be to fill it with actions serving the welfare of my
fellow-creatures."[31127]

"All these offenders outrage me;[31128] actions which to others may
appear insignificant or completely legitimate are for me crimes. As soon
as someone becomes acquainted with me he is at once calumniated. Others
are forgiven for their fortune, my zeal is considered a crime. Deprive
me of my conscience and I am the most wretched of men. I do not even
enjoy the rights of a citizen. I am not even allowed to perform my duty
as a representative of the people.... To the enemies of my country, to
whom my existence seems an obstacle to their heinous plots, I am ready
to sacrifice it, if their odious empire is to endure..... Let their road
to the scaffold be the pathway of crime, ours shall be that of virtue;
let the hemlock be got ready for me, I await it on this hallowed spot.
I shall at least bequeath to my country an example of constant affection
for it, and to the enemies of humanity the disgrace of my death."

Naturally, and always just like Marat, he sees around himself only
"the perverted, the plotters, the traitors."[31129]--Naturally, as with
Marat, common sense with him is perverted, and, like Marat again, he
thinks at random.

"I am not obliged to reflect," said he to Garat, "I always rely on first
impressions."

"For him," says the same authority, "the best reasons are
suspicions,"[31130] and naught makes