Dictatorial Arrogance

by Frédéric Bastiat

　　At what a tremendous height above the rest of mankind doesRobespierre here place himself! And note the arrogance with which hespeaks. He is not content to pray for a great reawakening of thehuman spirit. Nor does he expect such a result from a well-orderedgovernment. No, he himself will remake mankind, and by means ofterror.

　　This mass of rotten and contradictory statements is extracted froma discourse by Robespierre in which he aims to explain the principlesof morality which ought to guide a revolutionary government. Notethat Robespierre's request for dictatorship is not made merely for thepurpose of repelling a foreign invasion or putting down the opposinggroups. Rather he wants a dictatorship in order that he may useterror to force upon the country his own principles of morality. Hesays that this act is only to be a temporary measure preceding a newconstitution. But in reality, he desires nothing short of usingterror to extinguish from France selfishness, honor, customs,manners, fashion, vanity, love of money, good companionship,intrigue, wit, sensuousness, and poverty. Not until he, Robespierre,shall have accomplished these miracles, as he so rightly calls them,will he permit the law to reign again.*

　　 *At this point in the original French text, Mr. Bastiatpauses and speaks thusly to all do-gooders and would-be rulers ofmankind: "Ah, you miserable creatures! You who think that you are sogreat! You who judge humanity to be so small! You who wish to reformeverything! Why don't you reform yourselves? That task would besufficient enough."