The world will look at us and ask what sort of men we were.

Let them not say that we were

no better than those we overthrew. We are all going to die...I know this court, I created it
and I ask forgiveness to God and man. It was not intended to be the scourge of mankind, but
a last defense against madness, brutality and fear. Instead, it's become the murderer of
conscience. And let it be known to those who come to judge us that this is not what I wanted.
If I speak today, it's to defend what we've created, for all that we've achieved, not to save my
life.
We have broken the tyranny of privilege, we have cut the root of corruption by abolishing
those powers no man has the right to wield. We ended the monopoly of birth and wealth in
all the great offices of the State, in our churches, our armies... all this vast complex of arteries
and veins that feed this magnificent body which is France. We've declared the humblest man
is equal to the greatest. We've offered to slaves the liberty we won for ourselves. We entrust
to the world the task of building the future on the hope we kindled. This is more than a
victory in battle, more than the swords, cannons and cavalry of Europe! And this inspiration,
this vision for all men everywhere this longing, this thirst can never be stifled.
We will not have lived in vain.

There would have been no revolution without me.

There would have been no republic without me.
You are not leading me to my death, I will live forever!
Those who will look back at us will ask what kind of men we were. Let them not say we were
no better than what we swept aside.
We are all going to die. I know this Court: I created it and I ask pardon for this to God and
man. It was not intended to be the scourge of mankind, but an appeal of last resort against
the unchained madness of frightened, brutalized and angry men. Instead, it has become the
murderer of conscience. Let it be known that I at all had no such intention. If I speak today,
it's to defend what we've created, for all that we've achieved, not to save my life.
We have broken the tyranny of privilege. We have cut the roots of corruption by abolishing
the ancient rights and powers no man was entitled to. We have ended the monopoly of birth
and wealth of all our great offices of State, our churches, our army, of all this vast complex of
arteries and veins of this body politic the State of France.
We declared the humblest man the equal of the greatest in the land. We took freedom for
ourselves and we gave it to our slaves. We leave it to the world to come and build upon the
hopes that we have given birth to.
That is more than a victory in battle, more than all the swords and cannons and all the
charging cavalries of Europe. It is an inspiration to the vision of all men, everywhere. It is an
appetite for freedom that will not be denied.
Our lives have not been wasted in its service.
We will not have lived in vain!