Jean-Jacques Rousseau's greatest quotes
The top 3 according to 0 votes from people: Man is born free, and everywhere he is in chains. · The first man who, having fenced off a plot of land, thought of saying 'This is mine'… was the true founder of civil society. · Everything is good as it leaves the hands of the Author of things; everything degenerates in the hands of man.. (Updated Jul 19, 2020.)
From The Social Contract to Emile, from the Confessions to the Reveries of the Solitary Walker: the Rousseau lines still quoted today, with the work they come from.
Automatically translated (original in Français). See the original
Top 15
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1
Man is born free, and everywhere he is in chains.
The Social Contract (1762), book I, chapter 1.
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2
The first man who, having fenced off a plot of land, thought of saying 'This is mine'… was the true founder of civil society.
Discourse on Inequality (1755), part two.
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3
Everything is good as it leaves the hands of the Author of things; everything degenerates in the hands of man.
Emile, or On Education (1762), first sentence.
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4
The strongest is never strong enough to be always master, unless he turns his strength into right and obedience into duty.
The Social Contract, book I, chapter 3 ('On the right of the strongest').
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5
… which means nothing other than that he will be forced to be free.
The Social Contract, book I, chapter 7, on the general will.
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6
Money buys everything except morals and citizens.
Discourse on the Arts and Sciences (1750).
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7
To live is not to breathe, but to act.
Emile, book I.
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8
I would rather be a man of paradoxes than a man of prejudices.
Emile, book II.
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9
All wickedness comes from weakness; the child is only bad because he is weak; make him strong and he will be good.
Emile, book I.
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10
I want to show my fellows a man in all the truth of nature; and that man will be myself.
The Confessions, book one, opening.
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11
The pleasure of having is not worth the trouble of acquiring.
The Confessions, book one.
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12
Liberty is a nourishing food, but hard to digest; it takes very healthy stomachs to bear it.
Considerations on the Government of Poland.
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13
Let us always be truthful, whatever may come of it.
Reveries of the Solitary Walker, fourth walk.
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14
One may shine through finery, but one only pleases through oneself.
Emile, book V.
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15
Be just, and you will be happy.
Emile, book IV (Creed of a Savoyard Priest).
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