r/AskReddit • u/DrCompenomics • 12h ago

Who’s the best real-life example of “you either die a hero, or live long enough to see yourself become the villain,” and what happened?

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u/Deadfire_08 8h ago

Fucking Robiespierre (French Revolution). Was a leading figure in the uprising and the aftermath, after Louis 16 was shortened. A bit later he thought people should honor him as a god. He died then.

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u/Vasco_Medici 7h ago

Was unironically known as ''the Incorruptible' in the early days.

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u/Ok-Blueberry-9021 5h ago

His downfall was so funny. He basically said to the National Convention that he had a list of enemies of the state but, when people asked who was on it, his response was basically, “There are loads of you, but I’m not going to tell you. They know who they are.”

So the members of the National Convention decided it was kill or be killed

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u/malogan82 5h ago

That's the thing about bloody revolutionaries. Once the revolution has come back around, you don't really want them around anymore.

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u/Meritania 19m ago

Ah. And when this war is over, when -- when you have the homeland free, what do you think it's going to be like? Do you know? Have you thought about it? Have you given it any consideration? Because you're very close to getting what you want. What's it going to be like? Paint me a picture. Are you going to live in houses? Do you want people to go to work? What'll be holidays? Oh! Will there be music? Do you think people will be allowed to play violins? Who will make the violins? Well? Oh, You don't actually know, do you? Because, just like every other tantruming child in history, you don't actually know what you want. So, let me ask you a question about this brave new world of yours. When you've killed all the bad guys, and it's all perfect and just and fair, when you have finally got it exactly the way you want it, what are you going to do with the people like you? The troublemakers. How are you going to protect your glorious revolution from the next one?

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u/Elkburgher 5h ago

The shot him in the mouth so he couldnt talk at his trial

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u/Deadfire_08 2h ago

I alwqys thought it was a failed attempt at suicide

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u/Matobar 2h ago

There are conflicting theories, one is that he tried to commit suicide, another is that he was shot for resisting his arrest.

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u/MichaelOChE 4h ago

You could make a reli- no don't

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u/Toaster-Retribution 5h ago

Robespierre was never a hero though.

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u/MGD109 1h ago

I mean was originally, he spoke on the defence of people he utterly hated as a lawyer out of his belief in the rule of law, campaigned against antisemitism and corruption, and led to a lot of important reforms.

Tragically, becoming head of the new government just kind of broke him. He became consumed with paranoia.