The consequences of things are not always proportionate to the apparent magnitude of those events that have produced them. Thus the American Revolution, from which little was expected, produced much; but the French Revolution, from which much was expected, produced little.

Summary

This quote highlights the unpredictable nature of history and its outcomes. It argues that the consequences of events are not always determined by their initial perceived significance. Using two contrasting revolutions as examples, it suggests that the American Revolution, which was not initially anticipated to have a significant impact, ended up producing substantial changes in society. On the other hand, the French Revolution, which was expected to bring about great change, ultimately had limited results. The quote emphasizes the complexity of historical events and the difficulty of accurately predicting their consequences.

Topics