“I am a man before I am a Frenchman, an Englishman or a Russian, and if there were opposition between the narrow interest of nationalism and the immense interest of the human race, I would say: Perish my nation, so long as humanity triumphs!”

Original: Je suis homme avant d'être Français, Anglais ou Russe, et s'il y avait opposition entre l'intérêt étroit de nationalisme et l'immense intérêt du genre humain, je dirais, comme Barnave: « Périsse ma nation, pourvu que l'humanité triomphe! ». — Asserts a cosmopolitan priority of humanity over national interest, invoking an earlier revolutionary precedent. · La France parlementaire, political writings, 1864 (French)

• Humanity
• Nationality
• Politics

“There is a woman at the origin of all great things.”

Original: Il y a une femme à l'origine de toutes les grandes choses. — Credits women with a catalytic role in historical and creative achievements, often through passion or influence. · Histoire des Girondins, 1847 (French)

• History
• Influence
• Women

“Utopias are often only premature truths.”

Original: Les utopies ne sont souvent que des vérités prématurées. — Suggests that what seems visionary may simply anticipate ideas whose time has not yet come. · Histoire des Girondins, 1847 (French)

• Ideas
• Progress
• Truth