He leans back in his seat. "Very well, Combeferre. It was a simplification, obviously. I'm not saying progress doesn't happen to a degree, but it cycles back. Gains are made and lost again. Progress towards the second republic, which fell to the second empire after a bare four years. And then progress to the third republic, and then tyranny again. Fourth republic, fifth republic, people strive, progress, settle, fall back again, and it repeats. History mirrors itself."