Good observation Tony.
I think that our erstwhile friend is rather like Robespierre in that his love and compassion for humanity was unbounded, and there were no limits to what he would do rescue humanity from it's hitherto state of base slavery and ignorance.
It's just that he did not like people very much.
Anton, sounds like you saw that documentary on BBC2 last night. I thought it was bloody good. I can recommend Hilary Mantel's book "A Place of Greater Safety"