"When Religion and Royalty are swept away, the people will attack the great, and after the great, they will fall upon the rich"

In this quote, Honoré de Balzac offers a potent commentary on social change and the shifting tides of power. He postulates a sequence of upheaval, beginning with the dismantling of standard pillars of authority-- faith and royalty. These institutions traditionally wielded enormous impact over societal structures and the collective psyche of the people, frequently interwoven with divine or hereditary authenticity.

Balzac predicts their prospective overthrow as a precursor to wider social transformations. When these pillars are gotten rid of, he suggests that the focus will then move towards the 'terrific'-- an uncertain term likely representing the prominent figures or elites in society who wield power and authority, though not necessarily tied to spiritual or royal family tree. This phase represents a challenge to the social hierarchy and traditions that have long governed social order.

Following the 'great,' Balzac anticipates that the masses will turn their concentrate on the 'abundant.' Here, he appears to address financial power, foreseeing a reaction against the wealth variation that typically accompanies political revolutions. Historically, wealth has actually been a significant factor in keeping influence, and Balzac's forecast pictures a time when concentrated economic power may be objected to by the unhappy masses.

In essence, the quote encapsulates a development from taking apart recognized order toward a more comprehensive societal reckoning. It shows Balzac's understanding of historical revolutions, where power transitions do not take place in isolation but as part of a larger, in some cases disorderly, realignment of societal values and structures. Balzac use a classic story of struggle in between the judgment strata and the ruled, underscoring a cyclical nature of revolutions where accumulated discontent catalyzes sweeping modification. This sentiment is as relevant today as in Balzac's period, as societal injustices and the quest for justice continue to provoke considerable shifts worldwide.