Is it to be thought unreasonable that the people, in atonement for wrongs of a century, demand the vengeance of a single day?

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

Is it to be thought unreasonable that the people, in atonement for wrongs of a century, demand the vengeance of a single day?

One can...never create [freedom] by an invading force.

Any law which violates the inalienable rights of man is essentially unjust and tyrannical; it is not a law at all.

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.

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.