#pquotes

We receive all at once, my dearest teacher, the moving joy of the memorable victory you have just achieved. After returning from a quick excursion to the countryside, they bring me your letter; the Committee read those addressed to it, and in that moment Saint-Just enters to receive our embraces. I cannot explain what happens among us during these patriotic effusions. They can only be compared to yours on the field of victory.

In this way, the Gribeauvalists hoped to forge men, weapons, and tactics into a purposeful "machine" that would prove the most potent military force in Europe. Indeed, their ambition was realized when their mantle was taken up by their successors among the Revolutionary engineers—Lazare Carnot, Claude-Antoine Prieur de la Côte-d'Or, and their fellow savants—when these men found themselves in charge of the state in the years 1793-95. And in the end, their methods and ideologies enabled one of their disciples, the artillerist Napoléon Bonaparte, to make himself Emperor of all the French, and much of the Continent besides.

Prieur-Duvernois, better known as Prieur de la Côte-d'Or, was one of the greatest figures of the French Revolution. He had been overshadowed, because he was of modest character, but he gave incontestable services and he was one of those who helped to save France from the Coalition of European countries. [...] Although he was involved in many events, he did not play the main role, so it is important is to show what part he actually had in said events, which were often presented in a confused way. Moreover, he seemed to have horror of what one calls noise and false fame, he took as much care to hide his deeds as others did to flaunt them.

An eyewitness, Prieur (de la Côte-d'Or), told me that he saw Louis XVI, in the logographer's box, standing, leaning on a rifle that he had taken from the hands of a soldier, and quivering with rage. He only changed his attitude to ask for something to eat.

My thoughts often seek you in your retirement, my dear Carnot. I see you… Surrounded by your close ones, already taking care of your son's education, devoting a few meditations to science, and perhaps also using your experienced pen to draw some useful lessons for your country.

My attachment to the Constitution is seen as an extraordinary thing in Belfort. I often had discussions with some officers of the garrison. If one day I persuaded one, the following day I had to start all over again with others, sometimes even with the same one. As this sort of fight is extremely delicate and requires a lot of caution face-to-face with very hot-headed people and considering that I gladly get passionate too, I tried to avoid these occasions. Since the Fédération of the 14th, the opposers have been a little calmer. The more reasonable ones have realised that complaining will be powerless; others seem to have found relief through insults, calumnies and mean jokes; and all of this does not prevent them from sleeping, eating or playing.

I swear to use the weapons put in my hands for the defense of the country, and to support the Constitution decreed by the National Assembly against all its enemies from within and without, to die rather than suffer the invasion of French territory by foreign troops and to obey only the orders which will be given as a result of the decrees of the National Assembly.

"[...] And often the fear of doing something poorly prevents me from doing it. I will not get discouraged however. I want to force [my] nature through a tenacious work."