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This is Maximilien de Robespierre, barrister-at-law…

“This is Maximilien de Robespierre, barrister-at-law: unmarried, personable, a young man with all his life before him. Today against his most deeply held convictions he has followed the course of the law and sentenced a criminal to death. And now he is going to pay for it.” quote by Hilary Mantel
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““This is Maximilien de Robespierre, barrister-at-law: unmarried, personable, a young man with all his life before him. Today against his most deeply held convictions he has followed the course of the law and sentenced a criminal to death. And now he is going to pay for it.””

Hilary Mantel

About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Robespierre, a young lawyer, follows law to condemn, yet faces moral reckoning and eventual punishment.

In simple terms: Law can conflict with conscience.

Key Takeaway

Question legal versus moral duties.

Themes

law morality justice

Mood

somber intense

Type

historical philosophical

When to use this quote

  • courtroom
  • political intrigue
  • personal conscience

Key Concepts

ethical dilemma historical context

Questions to Reflect On

  • When should one defy unjust law?
  • What are the costs of moral compromise?
A Different Perspective

Legal obedience may perpetuate injustice.

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