Emmanuel-Joseph Sieyès Quotes

Emmanuel Joseph Sieyès , most commonly known as the abbé Sieyès , was a French Roman Catholic abbé, clergyman and political writer. He was one of the chief political theorists of the French Revolution, and also played a prominent role in the French Consulate and First French Empire.

His 1789 pamphlet What Is the Third Estate? became the manifesto of the Revolution, helping to transform the Estates-General into the National Assembly in June 1789. He was offered a position on the French Directory, but turned it down. After becoming a director in 1799, he was among the instigators of the coup d'état of 18 Brumaire , which brought Napoleon Bonaparte to power. He also coined the term "sociologie" in an unpublished manuscript, and made significant theoretical contributions to the nascent social sciences. Wikipedia  

✵ 3. May 1748 – 20. June 1836
Emmanuel-Joseph Sieyès photo
Emmanuel-Joseph Sieyès: 4 quotes0 likes

Famous Emmanuel-Joseph Sieyès Quotes

“Gentlemen, we have a master; this young man does everything, can do everything and will do everything.”

Emmanuel-Joseph Sieyès

Messieurs, nous avons un maître, ce jeune homme fait tout, peut tout, et veut tout.
Speaking of Napoleon I of France, reported in Hoyt's New Cyclopedia of Practical Quotations (1922), "Character", p. 105.

“I have survived or I existed or I lived”

Emmanuel-Joseph Sieyès

J'ai vécu.
After the Reign of Terror, when asked what he had done during that period; variously reported in Hoyt's New Cyclopedia of Practical Quotations (1922), "Life", p. 453; "War", p. 857.

“A nation of monkeys with the throat of parrots.”

Emmanuel-Joseph Sieyès

Note to Mirabeau, speaking of France, reported in Hoyt's New Cyclopedia of Practical Quotations (1922), "France", p. 294.

“Death without phrases.”

Emmanuel-Joseph Sieyès

La mort sans phrase.
Voting for the death of Louis XVI; denied by Sieyès—he no doubt voted "La mort", "sans phrase" being a note on the laconic nature of his vote, i.e. without remarks. The voting usually included explanations of the decision. Reported in Hoyt's New Cyclopedia of Practical Quotations (1922), "Death", p. 178.

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