From the debate during the first session of the National Convention (20 September 1792), translated by James Harvey Robinson, Readings in European History, vol. 2 (1904), p. 448
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Assuredly no one of us would ever propose to retain in France the fatal race of kings; we all know but too well that dynasties have never been anything else than rapacious tribes who lived on nothing, but human flesh. It is necessary completely to reassure the friends of liberty. We must destroy this talisman, whose magic power is still sufficient to stupefy many a man. I move accordingly that you sanction by a solemn law the abolition of royalty.

— Henri Grégoire

What It Means

This is a placeholder explanation generated by the low-overhead model. It interprets "Assuredly no one of us would ever propose to retain in France the fatal race of kings; we all know but too well that dynasties have never been anything else than rapacious tribes who lived on nothing, but human flesh. It is necessary completely to reassure the friends of liberty. We must destroy this talisman, whose magic power is still sufficient to stupefy many a man. I move accordingly that you sanction by a solemn law the abolition of royalty." in the context of "From the debate during the first session of the National Convention (20 September 1792), translated by James Harvey Robinson, Readings in European History, vol. 2 (1904), p. 448" to mean that wisdom is timeless.

Source: Wikiquote: "Henri Grégoire" (Quotes) The 'What it means' explanation text was generated by Google Gemini Flash (accessed January 19, 2026). https://gemini.google.com/app
Henri Grégoire

About Henri Grégoire

Henri Jean-Baptiste Grégoire (4 December 1750 – 28 May 1831), often referred to as the Abbé Grégoire, was a French Catholic priest, constitutional bishop of Blois and a revolutionary leader. He was an ardent slavery abolitionist and supporter of universal suffrage. He was a founding member of the Bureau des longitudes, the Institut de France, and the Conservatoire national des arts et métiers.