Was the French Revolution a good thing?

Answered on Quora.

It was not so much a good thing but an inevitability. The lopsided and corrupt Ancien Regime could only continue to exist for so long. However in weighing the Positives and Negatives over the Long run I would argue that it was largely a positive development.

Here in my opinion are its positives

1. It brought to an end a corrupt monarchy and the equally complicit First and Second Estates;
2. The Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen (1789) which introduced natural rights (that are universal) into the continental framework - this would help in the development of both freedom and democracy;
3. It strengthened the French National character (gave the Third Estate more power);
4. Meritocracy was given breathing room to evolve at the expense of elitist privilege;
5. Women’s voices were actively heard through such action as the March of the Women on Versailles;
6. It limited the power of the clergy in France;
7. It provided a framework for the reorganization of France politically (into more structured departments);
8. It would provide a catalyst to challenge monarchical autocracy throughout the continent;
9. French law would be reformed on a more equitable basis.
10. Necessary modifications took place to the taxation system in France.
11. From a learning perspective - It allowed us to see the ramifications of a positive movement being engulfed by a radical intolerant ideology.

The negatives are

1. It was incredibly bloody - The Reign of Terror was an extremely bleak period;
2. It ultimately lead to the Rise of Napoleon and the Coalition Wars that would engulf Europe (and elsewhere) until 1815;
3. The Revolution was hijacked by a destructive ideology (Jacobinism) that would eventually culminate in the establishment of a police state;
4. Group Identity politics dominated much of its proceedings - although it appeared to champion individualism the Revolution in practice centered on group politics;
5. It was the mother of Far Leftism - Marxist-Leninism owes a great deal of gratitude to the Revolution's earlier fellow travelers.