A polite revolutionary makes every effort to abide by the law, and not lightly to dissolve the political bands which connect him with what has been until now his people. A polite revolutionary states his case, petitions for redress, and sues for a peaceful separation when redress is not possible.

A polite revolutionary is not an appeaser, though. He does not accept tyranny and atrocity because revolution would be too radical. If the tyrant answers his declaration of independence with violence, he may choose to lay down his life in martyrdom, or he may choose to defend his revolution, but he does not surrender. In battle he may eschew terrorism (as well he should), spare the innocent, and give quarter where he is able, but he still fights first and foremost to win. He may regulate his speech–Read that correctly now: this individual may regulate, meaning may control, his own speech, on grounds of morality and politeness. This is no reference to “regulation” imposed by a government or other governing institution. He may regulate his speech, in this sense, to uphold a certain decorum, and may regulate his behavior in battle likewise, but–and this is utterly crucial–he never allows the tyrant to shame him.

He does not fight his own side first. First, he fights as necessary to win his independence. Then, only when that fight is decisively won, he addresses any disagreements he may have with his fellow revolutionaries.

The men who fought the American war for independence were men of the highest character, utterly devoted to their principles above their own lives, but never once did they allow their principles to be used to throttle them in their efforts. Though they were decorous, they did not disown the indecorous or foul-mouthed among them, but stood by them through hell and winter. Though they were truthtellers, they nonetheless embraced propaganda efforts both abroad and amongst their own, in support of their mission. Though they endeavored to adhere to the conventions of honorable warfare, they fought to win, in every battle sought to annihilate the enemy force, and used every tactical ploy available to them within their moral bounds. If an atrocity was committed by some among them, they did not apologize or waver, did not allow the enemy to use it against them, but pressed on to victory.

“Principled” men who declare that you must police your own, must morally perfect your side and shun everyone who fails your moral test, before you can fight for your freedom as a group, are not men in the image of the American revolution. They are moral weaklings and cowards who would sacrifice all that is noble and good, would see liberty ended utterly, before they dirtied their hands with the real work of defending it. They are as good as collaborators with the tyrants.

Do not let your politeness, your morality, or your principles be a lever or weapon against you. If your ideas are not worth fighting for in all the ugliness that fighting entails in the real world–then don’t pretend you’re willing to fight for them at all. There are no clean fights.