The king must die so that the country can live.

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

The secret of freedom lies in educating people, whereas the secret of tyranny is in keeping them ignorant.

The general will rules in society as the private will governs each separate individual.

No one loves armed missionaries; the first lesson of nature and prudence is to repulse them as enemies.

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.