Maurice Joly: Your honor, I have not written a lampoon here…this book’s delineations are applicable to all governments!

Maurice Joly: No! No! No! This book provides a call to conscience…a perspective for citizens concerned about the harsh realities of the conditions in which they live… Furthermore, my book shows how the despotism taught by Machiavelli in “The Prince” could, by artifice and evil ways, impose itself on our society. | Prosecutor: No, your honor. It does more than that… for by ‘’’using’’’ the despotism of Machiavelli’’’ asa comparison, Joly seeks to show that Bonaparte, our sovereign, and an evil Italian are ‘’’the same’’’ in thought and deed! | Maurice Joly: If the reader sees a relationship to the infamy of the emperor, am I to blame? | Judge: Maurice Joly,I charge you with the crime of defamation! Of suggesting through shameful means that our sovereign has led the public astray, degraded our nation and corrupted our morals! This is an infamy, sir!! | Judge: Therefore, Maurice Joly, this court sentences you to 15 months imprisonment. | Maurice Joly: This is unfair and an example of this despotic society under Louis Bonaparte! | Balif: Quiet! You’ve had your say! | Judge: The emperor’s police will immediately confiscate all copies of this book they can find! | pp.16-19