liberty equality fraternity
Revolutionary French ideals
Liberty, equality, fraternity is the national motto of France, originating in the French Revolution.
The three ideals—freedom from oppression, equal rights for all citizens, and solidarity among the people—became rallying cries against monarchy and aristocratic privilege.
The phrase appears on French currency, public buildings, and official documents, and remains a touchstone for republican values: The protesters invoked liberty, equality, fraternity as they marched.
- freedomAbsence of constraint
- French RevolutionLate-1700s republican upheaval
- revolutionViolent governmental overthrow
- brotherhoodKinship among men
- democracyRule by the people
justice · human rights · tricolor · France · republic · Bastille · rights · solidarity · unity · social contract · citizenship · citizen soldier · commune · uprising · barricades · Marianne · constitution · emancipation
liberty equality fraternitytyranny
Oppressive, absolute governance
despotism · autocracy · divine right of kings · absolutism · absolute monarchy
liberty equality fraternityancien régime
Replaced system of governance
privilege · counter-revolution · royalism · serfdom · noblesse oblige
liberty equality fraternitybondage
Involuntary subjugation to another
inequality · enmity · division · subjection · caste system
liberty, equality, fraternity, liberal, liberalism, liberate, liberation, liberator, libertarian