When we reflect, that the Inquisition, by its restrictions, and authority, would have prevented the French revolution,—it is hard to say, whether the Sovereign, who, wholly, and without reserve, gave up this instrument, would not, in reality, be doing an injury to humanity.

What It Means

This is a placeholder explanation generated by the low-overhead model. It interprets "When we reflect, that the Inquisition, by its restrictions, and authority, would have prevented the French revolution,—it is hard to say, whether the Sovereign, who, wholly, and without reserve, gave up this instrument, would not, in reality, be doing an injury to humanity." in the context of "Joseph de Maistre, Letters on the Spanish Inquisition (1822), p. 31" to mean that wisdom is timeless.