The first was absolute and unchangeable; the second admitted of some variations if the ruler did not enhance the glory of France, and also (as some cynics said) recognise the greatness of M.Thiers.For the many gibes to which his lively talents and successful career exposed him, he had his revenge.
His keen glance and incisive reasoning generally warned him of the probable fate of Dynasties and Ministries.

Like Talleyrand, whom he somewhat resembled in versatility, opportunism, and undying love of France, he might have said that he never deserted a Government before it deserted itself.

He foretold the fall of Louis Philippe under the reactionary Guizot Ministry as, later on, he foretold the fall of Napoleon III.

He blamed the Emperor for not making war on Prussia in 1866 with the same unanswerable logic that marked his opposition to the mad rush for war in 1870.

And yet the war spirit had been in some sense strengthened by his own writings.