"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"
- Maximilien Robespierre
About this Quote
Maximilien Robespierre's quote recommends that fear is a needed kind of justice in a democracy. He believes that it is a natural effect of the basic principle of democracy, and is needed to fulfill the most pressing requirements of the nation. He likewise recommends that horror needs to be prompt, extreme, and inflexible, as it is an emanation of virtue. This quote implies that fear is a necessary tool for a democracy to keep order and justice, and that it ought to be used sensibly and with caution. Robespierre's quote suggests that fear is a required part of a democracy, which it needs to be utilized to make sure justice and order. It likewise indicates that terror ought to be used with care, as it can be an effective tool that can be abused. Eventually, Robespierre's quote recommends that fear is an essential part of a democracy, and that it ought to be used carefully and with caution.