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sterility never surpassed。 Unquestionably； as far as the
formulation of durable laws is concerned； i。e。 adapting the social
machinery to personalities； conditions； and circumstances； their
mentality is certainly the most impotent and harmful。 It is
organically short…sighted； and by interposing their principles between
it and reality； they shut off the horizon。 Beyond their crowd and the
club it distinguishes nothing； while in the vagueness and confusion of
the distance it erects the hollow idols of its own Utopia。 But when
power is to be seized by assault； and a dictatorship arbitrarily
exercised； the mechanical inflexibility of such a mind is useful
rather than detrimental。 It is not embarrassed or slowed down； like
that of a statesman； by the obligation to make inquiries； to respect
precedents； of looking into statistics； of calculating and tracing
beforehand in different directions the near and remote consequences of
its work as this affects the interests； habits； and passions of
diverse classes。 All this is now obsolete and superfluous： the Jacobin
knows on the spot the correct form of government and the good laws。
For both construction as well as for destruction； his rectilinear
method is the quickest and most vigorous。 For； if calm reflection is
required to get at what suits twenty…six millions of living Frenchmen；
a mere glance suffices to understand the desires of the abstract men
of their theory。 Indeed； according to the theory； men are all shaped
to one pattern； nothing being left to them but an elementary will；
thus defined； the philosophic robot demands liberty； equality and
popular sovereignty； the maintenance of the rights of man and adhesion
to the 〃Contrat Social。〃 That is enough： from now on the will of the
people is known； and known beforehand； a consultation among citizens
previous to action is not essential； there is no obligation to await
their votes。 In any events； a ratification by the people is sure； and
should this not be forthcoming it is owing to their ignorance； disdain
or malice； in which case their response deserves to be considered as
null。 The best thing to do； consequently； through precaution and to
protect the people from what is bad for them； is to dictate to them
what is good for them。 Here； the Jacobin might be sincere； for the
men in whose behalf he claims rights are not flesh…and…blood
Frenchmen； as we see them in the streets and in the fields； but men in
general； as they ought to be on leaving the hands of Nature； or after
the teachings of Reason。 As to the former； there is no need of being
scrupulous because they are infatuated with prejudices and their
opinions are mere drivel； as for the latter； it is just the opposite：
full of respect for the vainglorious images of his own theory； of
ghosts produced by his own intellectual device； the Jacobin will
always bow down to responses that he himself has provided； for； the
beings that he has created are more real in his eyes than living ones
and it is their suffrage on which he counts。 Accordingly； viewing
things in the worst lights； he has nothing against him but the
momentary antipathy of a purblind generation。 To offset this； he
enjoys the approval of humanity； self…obtained； that of a posterity
which his acts have regenerated； that of men who； thanks to him； who
are again become what they should never have ceased to be。 Hence； far
from looking upon himself as an usurper or a tyrant； he considers
himself the natural mandatory of a veritable people； the authorized
executor of the common will。 Marching along in the procession formed
for him by this imaginary crowd； sustained by millions of metaphysical
wills created by himself in his own image； he has their unanimous
assent； and； like a chorus of triumphant shouts； he will fill the
outward world with the inward echo of his own voice。
IV。
What the theory promises。 … How it flatters wounded self…esteem。
The ruling passion of the Jacobin。 Apparent both in style and
conduct。 He alone is virtuous in his own estimation； while his
adversaries are vile。 They must accordingly be put out of the way。
Perfection of this character。 Common sense and moral sense both
perverted。
'When an ideology attracts people； it is less due to its
sophistication than to the promises it holds out。 It appeals more to
their desires than to their intelligence； for； if the heart sometimes
may be the dupe of the head； the latter is much more frequently the
dupe of the former。 We do not accept a system because we deem it a
true one； but because the truth we find in it suits us。 Political or
religious fanaticism； any theological or philosophical channel in
which truth flows； always has its source in some ardent longing； some
secret passion； some accumulation of intense； painful desire to which
a theory affords and outlet。 In the Jacobin； as well as in the
Puritan； there is a fountain…head of this description。 What feeds this
source with the Puritan is the anxieties of a disturbed conscience
which； forming for itself some idea of perfect justice； becomes rigid
and multiplies the commandments it believes that God has promulgated；
on being constrained to disobey these it rebels； and； to impose them
on others； it becomes tyrannical even to despotism。 The first effort
of the Puritan； however； wholly internal； is self…control； before
becoming political he becomes moral。 With the Jacobin； on the
contrary； the first precept is not moral； political； it is not his
duties which he exaggerates but his rights； while his doctrine；
instead of being a prick to his conscience； flatters his pride。＇21＇
However vast and insatiate human pride may be； now it is satisfied；
for never before has it had so much to feed upon。 In the program of
the sect； do not look for the restricted prerogatives growing out of
self…respect which the proud…spirited man claims for himself； such as
civil rights accompanied by those liberties that serve as sentinels
and guardians of these rights … security for life and property； the
stability of the law； the integrity of courts； equality of citizens
before the law and under taxation； the abolition of privileges and
arbitrary proceedings； the election of representatives and the
administration of public funds。 Summing it up； the precious
guarantees which render each citizen an inviolable sovereign on his
limited domain； which protect his person and property against all
species of public or private oppression and exaction； which maintain
him calm and erect before competitors as well as adversaries； upright
and respectful in the presence of magistrates and in the presence of
the government。
A Malouet； a Mounier； a Mallet du Pan； partisans of the English
Constitution and Parliament； may be content with such trifling gifts；
but the Jacobin theory holds them all cheap； and； if need be； will
trample them in the dust。 Independence and security for the private
citizen is not what it promises； not the right to vote every two
years； not a moderate exercise of influence； not an indirect； limited
and intermittent control of the commonwealth； but political dominion
in the full and complete possession of France and the French people。
There is no doubt on this point。 In Rousseau's own words； the 〃Contrat
Social〃 prescribes 〃the complete alienation to the community of each
associate and all his rights；〃 every individual surrendering himself
wholly； 〃just as he may actually be； he himself and all his powers of
which his possessions form a part；〃 so that the state not only the
recognized owner of property； but of minds and bodies as well； may
forcibly and legitimately impose on every member of it such education；
form of worship； religious faith； opinions and sympathies as it deems
best。＇22＇ Now each man； solely because he is a man； is by right a
member of this despotic sovereignty。 Whatever； accordingly； my
condition may be； my incompetence； my ignorance； my insignific