JULY 1776 and July 1789: important landmarks in history, when we recall an optimism that was probably exaggerated. The American and French Revolutions (and a century later, the Russian Revolution) would not have happened had there not been people utterly convinced that they, as fitting for humankind, were able to change history.

But then what —

Once that July and year had passed, and another period come about, this optimism was squashed. Revo