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we invade the family and select the most beautiful to be draped as
antique goddesses； and publicly promenaded on a chariot； we sometimes
even designate those among the rich who must wed patriots＇18＇： there
is no reason why marriage； which is the most important of all
services； should not be put in requisition like the others。
Accordingly； we enter families； we carry of the child； we subject him
to a civic education。 We are schoolmasters； philanthropists；
theologians； and moralists。 We impose by force our religion and our
ritual； our morality and our social customs。 We lord it over private
lives and consciences； we dictate ideas； we scrutinize and punish
secret inclinations； we tax； imprison and guillotine not only the
evil…disposed； but again 〃the indifferent； the moderate and the
egoists。〃＇19＇ Over and above his visible acts we dictate to the
individual his ideas and his deepest feelings； we prescribe to him his
affections as well as his beliefs； and； according to a preconceived
type； we refashion his intellect； his conscience and his
sensibilities。
III。
The object of the State is the regeneration of man。 … Two sides to
this undertaking。 … Restoration of the Natural man。 … Formation of
the Social man。 … Grandeur of the undertaking。 … To carry it out；
the use of force is a right and a duty。
There is nothing arbitrary in this operation； for the ideal model is
traced beforehand。 If the State is omnipotent； it is for the purpose
of 〃regenerating Mankind；〃 and the theory which confers its rights； at
the same time assigns to it its object。 In what does this
regeneration of Man consist？ … Consider a domestic animal such as a
dog or a horse。 Scrawny； battered； tied up or chained； a thousand are
strained and overworked compared to the few basking in idleness； dying
from rich living； and with all of them； whether fat or lean； the soul
is more spoiled than the body。 A superstitious respect keeps them
cowed under their burden； or makes them cringe before their master。
Servile； slothful； gluttonous； feeble； incapable of resisting
adversity； if they have acquired the miserable skills of slavery； they
have also contracted its needs； weaknesses and vices。 A crust of
absurd habits and perverse inclinations； a sort of artificial and
supplementary being； has covered over their original nature。 … And；
on the other hand； the better side of their original nature has had no
chance to develop itself； for lack of use。 Separated from the other；
these two parts of its nature have not acquired the sentiment of
community； they do not know； like their brethren of the prairies； how
to help each other and subordinate private interests to the interests
of the flock。 Each pulls his own way； nobody cares for others； all
are egoists； social interests have miscarried。 … Such is Man
nowadays； a disfigured slave that has to be restored。 Our task；
accordingly is two…fold： we have to demolish and we have to construct；
we must first set free the natural Man that we may afterwards build up
the social Man。
It is a vast enterprise and we are conscious of its vastness。
〃It is necessary；〃 says Billaud…Varennes；＇20＇ 〃that the people to
which one desires to restore their freedom should in some way be
created anew； since old prejudices must be destroyed； old habits
changed； depraved affections improved； superfluous wants restricted；
and inveterate vices extirpated。〃
But the task is sublime； as the aim is 〃to fulfill the desires of
nature；＇21＇ accomplish the destinies of humanity； and fulfill the
promises of philosophy〃。…
〃Our purpose；〃 says Robespierre；＇22＇ 〃is to substitute morality for
egoism； honesty for honor； principles for custom； duties for
etiquette； the empire of reason for the tyranny of fashion； contempt
of vice for indifference to misfortune； pride for arrogance； a noble
mind for vanity； love of glory for the love of profit； good people for
high society； merit for intrigue； genius for intellectual brilliancy；
the charm of contentment for the boredom of voluptuous pleasure； the
majesty of Man for the high…breeding of the great； a magnanimous；
powerful and happy people for an amiable； frivolous and wretched
people； that is to say； every virtue and miracle of the Republic in
the place of the vices and absurdities of the monarchy。〃
We will do this； the whole of it； whatever the cost。 Little do we
care for the present generation： we are working for generations to
come。
〃Man； forced to isolate himself from society； anchors himself in the
future and presses to his heart a posterity innocent of existing
evils。〃＇23＇
He sacrifices to this work his own and the lives of others。
〃On the day that I am persuaded；〃 writes Saint…Just； 〃that it is
impossible to render the French people kind； energetic； tender and
relentless against tyranny and injustice； I will stab myself。〃
… 〃What I have done in the South I will do in the North；〃 says Baudot；
〃I will convert them into patriots； either they or I must die。〃 …
〃We will make France a cemetery；〃 says Carrier； 〃rather than not
regenerate it our own way。〃
In vain may the ignorant or the vicious protest； they protest because
they are ignorant or vicious。 In vain may the individual plead his
personal rights； he has none： through the social contract； which is
obligatory and solely valid； he has surrendered his entire being；
having made no reservation； 〃he has nothing to claim。〃 Undoubtedly；
some will grumble； because； with them； the old wrinkle remains and
artificial habits still cover over the original instinct。 Untie the
mill…horse； and he will still go round in the same track； let the
mountebank's dog be turned loose； and he will still raise himself on
his hind…legs； if we would bring them back to their natural gait we
must handle them roughly。 In like manner； to restore Man to his
normal attitude； you must handle him roughly。 But； in this respect；
have no scruples；＇24＇ for we do not bow him down； we raise him up ； as
Rousseau says； 〃we compel him to be free；〃 we confer on him the
greatest boon a human being can receive； we bring him back to nature
and to justice。 For this reason； now that he is warned； if he
persists in his resistance； he is a criminal and merits every kind of
chastisements＇25＇； for； he declares himself a rebel and a perjurer；
inimical to humanity； and a traitor to the social compact。
IV。
Two distortions of the natural man。 … Positive religion。 …
Proscription of the orthodox cult。 … Measures against unsworn
priests。 … Measures against the loyal orthodox。 … Destruction of the
constitutional cult。 … Pressure on the sworn priests。 … Churches
closed and ceremonies suppressed。 … Continuation of these
persecutions until the Consulate。
Let us （Taine lets the Jacobin say） begin by figuring to ourselves the
natural man； certainly we of to…day have some difficulty in
recognizing him； he bears but li