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.

Terror is nothing else than justice, prompt, severe, inflexible.

Any institution which does not suppose the people good, and the magistrate corruptible, is evil.

Terror is only justice: prompt, severe and inflexible. It is then an emanation of virtue.

Softness to traitors will destroy us all.

To punish the oppressors of humanity is clemency; to forgive them is cruelty.

The king must die so that the country can live.