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Virtue in Action – Maximilien Robespierre and Political Intolerance

Strive to be open minded and fair when having conversations with others. Disagreement
is a natural part of civil discourse.

  • Think about ways in which Robespierre dismissed his opposition. Think about ways in which his demonizing and silencing of his opposition led down dangerous paths.
  • When working on group projects, ensure everyone’s opinions are able to be stated and are listened to. Coming to a group consensus is hard, but leads to greater accomplishments.
  • Strive to be generous in your own actions. Listen before you speak and be kind to
    others.
  • Do not dismiss someone because their opinion may differ from yours. Listen and respectfully disagree if you do not agree with their rational

Sources & Further Reading

Edmund Burke, Reflections on the Revolution in France

William Doyle, The French Revolution: A Very Short Introduction. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2001.

William Doyle, The Oxford History of the French Revolution. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2003.

Christopher Hibbert, The Days of the French Revolution. New York: William Morrow, 1999.

Peter McPhee, Robespierre: A Revolutionary Life. New Haven: Yale University Press, 2013. RR Palmer, Twelve who Ruled: The Year of Terror in the French Revolution. Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1941.

Simon Schama, Citizens: A Chronicle of the French Revolution. New York: Knopf, 1991.

Ruth Scurr, Fatal Purity: Robespierre and the French Revolution. New York: Holt, 2007