[Antoninus]

Historian A. J. P. Taylor called him “the only wholly admirable figure in modern history”.[9]

Considering where his ideological progeny ended up in the next century (socialism, fascism, nazism, communism), I don't find him particularly admirable at all in retrospect. I have come to have more and more respect for the ancient Catholic monarchies of Europe than for those men who disposed of them.

[BroJoeK]

Antoninus: "I have come to have more and more respect for the ancient Catholic monarchies of Europe than for those men who disposed of them. "

One of the great historical questions is: how did the American Revolution produce George Washington and the US Constitution, while at virtually the same time and supposedly for the same ideals the French Revolution produced Robespierre, the guillotine and Emperor Napoleon?

A short answer is: Americans faced only the foreign Brits and originally demanded only their "natural rights as Englishmen", while French revolutionaries faced a centuries' old domestic "divine right of kings" supported by the ancient & wealthy Catholic Church.
So Revolution was a relatively short leap of political faith for Americans, but a bridge way too far for the unfortunate French -- and other similar European revolutionaries.

[robowombat]

Consider the source. A. J. P. Taylor was virtually a communist, without supposedly being a carded member, during the 30’s and into the post war years. He openly loathed the USA making a point of showing him being shown the US border in New Brunswick and Taylor saying ‘Why show me that? I never want to cross it.” He was also an insufferable reverse snob and perpetual lefty.