Commencedbythemiddleclassesfortheirownprofit，theRevolutionspeedilybecameapopularmovement，andatthesametimeastruggleoftheinstinctiveagainsttherational，arevoltagainstalltheconstraintswhichmakecivilisationoutofbarbarism。Itwasbyrelyingontheprincipleofpopularsovereigntythatthereformersattemptedtoimposetheirdoctrines。Guidedbyleaders，thepeopleintervenedincessantlyinthedeliberationsoftheAssemblies，andcommittedthemostsanguinaryactsofviolence。
ThehistoryofthemultitudesduringtheRevolutioniseminentlyinstructive。Itshowstheerrorofthepoliticianswhoattributeallthevirtuestothepopularsoul。
ThefactsoftheRevolutionteachus，onthecontrary，thatapeoplefreedfromsocialconstraints，thefoundationsofcivilisation，andabandonedtoitsinstinctiveimpulses，speedilyrelapsesintoitsancestralsavagery。Everypopularrevolutionwhichsucceedsintriumphingisatemporaryreturntobarbarism。
IftheCommuneof1871hadlasted，itwouldhaverepeatedtheTerror。Nothavingthepowertokillsomanypeople，ithadtoconfineitselftoburningtheprincipalmonumentsofthecapital。
TheRevolutionrepresentstheconflictofpsychologicalforcesliberatedfromthebondswhosefunctionitistorestrainthem。