Hisdictatorship，absoluteduringfivemonths，isastrikingexampleofthepowerofcertainleaders。Wecanunderstandthatatyrantbackedbyanarmycaneasilydestroywhomhepleases，butthatasinglemanshouldsucceedinsendingtodeathalargenumberofhisequalsisathingthatisnoteasilyexplained。
ThepowerofRobespierrewassoabsolutethathewasabletosendtotheTribunal，andthereforetothescaffold，themosteminentdeputies：Desmoulins，Hebert，Danton，andmanyanother。ThebrilliantGirondistsmeltedawaybeforehim。HeattackedeventheterribleCommune，guillotineditsleaders，andreplaceditbyanewCommuneobedienttohisorders。
InordertoridhimselfmorequicklyofthemenwhodispleasedhimheinducedtheConventiontoenactthelawofPrairial，whichpermittedtheexecutionofmeresuspects，andbymeansofwhichhehad1，373headscutoffinParisinforty—ninedays。Hiscolleagues，thevictimsofaninsaneterror，nolongersleptathome；scarcelyahundreddeputieswerepresentatsessions。
Davidsaid：``IdonotbelievetwentyofusmembersoftheMountainwillbeleft。’’
ItwashisveryexcessofconfidenceinhisownpowersandinthecowardiceoftheConventionthatlostRobespierrehislife。