Too near, as well as too far off, prevents a correct view.

Thus it is with great events.

The hand of God is visible in human things, but this hand itself has a shadow which conceals what it accomplishes.

All that could then be seen of the French Revolution announced all that was great in this world, the advent of a new idea in human kind, the democratic idea, and afterwards the democratic government.
This idea was an emanation of Christianity.

Christianity finding men in serfage and degraded all over the earth, had arisen on the fall of the Roman Empire, like a mighty vengeance, though under the aspect of a resignation.