excerpt from What is the Third Estate?
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Excerpt from What is the Third Estate? by the Abbé Sieyès, January 1789
We have three questions to ask:
The First and Second Estates hold only the well-paid and honorary positions. They have said to the Third Estate, "Whatever your services and talents, you shall go thus far and no farther. It is not appropriate that you should be honoured."
If the privileged orders were abolished, the nation would be something more rather than something less. Thus, what is the Third Estate? Everything, but an everything that is shackled and oppressed. What would it be without the privileged orders?
Everything, but an everything free and flourishing. Nothing can progress without it. Everything would go better, however, without the other estates. The nobility does not really belong to the social organization. Indeed, it may be a burden on the nation.
- What is the Third Estate? Nothing.
- What has it been in the political order? Nothing.
- What does it demand? To become something.
The First and Second Estates hold only the well-paid and honorary positions. They have said to the Third Estate, "Whatever your services and talents, you shall go thus far and no farther. It is not appropriate that you should be honoured."
If the privileged orders were abolished, the nation would be something more rather than something less. Thus, what is the Third Estate? Everything, but an everything that is shackled and oppressed. What would it be without the privileged orders?
Everything, but an everything free and flourishing. Nothing can progress without it. Everything would go better, however, without the other estates. The nobility does not really belong to the social organization. Indeed, it may be a burden on the nation.