French revolution Quote by Edmund Wilson
““It is a proof of the divergence of the tendencies of the socialist and the bourgeois pictures of history—and from now on there will be two distinct historical cultures running side by side without ever really fusing—that people who have been brought up on the conventional version of history and know all about the Robespierrist Terror during the Great French Revolution, should find it an unfamiliar fact that the Terror of the government of Thiers executed, imprisoned or exiled more people—the number has been estimated at a hundred thousand—in that one week of the suppression of the [Paris] Commune [of 1871] than the revolutionary Terror of Robespierre had done in three years.””
About This Quote
Source Book: The Rise of the American Novel, 1945
The quote highlights how historical narratives diverge, showing that the violent suppression of the Paris Commune was far more lethal in a short span than the earlier revolutionary Terror, underscoring competing historical cultures.
In simple terms: History can be told in conflicting ways, revealing hidden atrocities.
Key Takeaway
Recognize differing historical perspectives.
Themes
history
politics
memory
conflict
culture
Mood
reflective
critical
Type
analytical
historical
When to use this quote
- academic discussion
- public lectures
- museum exhibits
- media analysis
Key Concepts
revolutionary terror
state violence
historical narrative
Questions to Reflect On
- How do we reconcile conflicting historical accounts?
- What impact does selective memory have on society?
A Different Perspective
The comparison may oversimplify complex events.
![“It [August 10th 1792] was the bloodiest day of the Revolution so far, but also one of the most decisive.” quote by William Doyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/d89/william-doyle-68265_august_it-august-10th-1792-was-the-bloodiest-da_77206.jpg)
