But, for lack of internal harmony and of central impulsion, the machine only half works, the power not being sufficient and its action not sufficiently sweeping and universal.
"You are too remote from the conspiracies against you," says St.
Just;[11116] "it is essential that the sword of the law should everywhere be rapidly brandished and your arm be everywhere present to arrest crime....

The ministers confess that, beyond their first and second subordinates, they find nothing but inertia and indifference."-- "A similar apathy is found in all the government agents," adds Billaud-Varennes;[11117] "the secondary authorities which are the strong points of the Revolution serve only to impede it." Decrees, transmitted through administrative channels, arrive slowly and are indolently applied.

"You are missing that co-active force which is the principle of being, of action, of execution....

Every good government should possess a center of willpower and the levers connected with it....

Every government activity should exclusively originate from the central source."-- "In ordinary governments," says Couthon, finally,[11118] "the right of electing belongs to the people; you cannot take it away from them.