Jean-Jacques Rousseau Quotes
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The happiest is he who suffers least; the most miserable is he who enjoys least.
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I have never thought, for my part, that man's freedom consists in his being able to do whatever he wills, but that he should not, by any human power, be forced to do what is against his will.
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Good laws lead to the making of better ones; bad ones bring about worse.
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As a general rule-never substitute the symbol for the thing signified, unless it is impossible to show the thing itself; for the child's attention is so taken up with the symbol that he will forget what it signifies.
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As long as there are rich people in the world, they will be desirous of distinguishing themselves from the poor.
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If all were perfect Christians, individuals would do their duty; the people would be obedient to the laws, the magistrates incorrupt, and there would be neither vanity nor luxury in such a state.
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The English people think they are free; they are greatly deceived; they are free only during the election of members of Parliament.
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Singing and dancing alone will not advance one in the world. [Fr., Qui bien chante et bien danse fait un metier qui peu avance.]
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From the first moment of life, men ought to begin learning to deserve to live; and, as at the instant of birth we partake of the rights of citizenship, that instant ought to be the beginning of the exercise of our duty.
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Yes, if the life and death of Socrates are those of a wise man, the life and death of Jesus are those of a god.
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Men and women are made for each other, but their mutual dependence differs in degrees; man is dependent on woman through his desires; woman is dependent on man through her desires and also through her needs; he could do without her better than she can do without him. She cannot fulfill her purpose in life without his aid, without his goodwill, without his respect.....Nature herself has decreed that woman, both for herself and her children, should be at the mercy of man s judgment.
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He who has the base necessities of life should pay nothing; taxation on him who has a surplus may, if need be; extend to everything beyond necessities.
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Jewish authors would never have invented either that style nor that morality; and the Gospel has marks of truth so great, so striking, so utterly inimitable, that the invention of it would be more astonishing than the hero.
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There is no subjection so perfect as that which keeps the appearance of freedom.
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Sacrifice life to truth.
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The infant, on opening his eyes, ought to see his country, and to the hour of his death never lose sight of it.
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It has always pleased me to read while eating if I have no companion; it gives me the society I lack. I devour alternately a page and a mouthful; it is as though my book were dining with me.
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That man is truly free who desires what he is able to perform, and does what he desires.
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Virtue is a state of war, and to live in it we have always to combat with ourselves.
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Christ preaches only servitude and dependence... True Christians are made to be slaves.
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Laws are always useful to those who possess and vexatious to those who have nothing.
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All of my misfortunes come from having thought too well of my fellows.
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There is a period in life when we go backwards as we advance.
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Not all the subtilties of metaphysics can make me doubt a moment of the immortality of the soul, and of a beneficent Providence. I feel it, I believe it, I desire it, I hope it, and will defend it to my last breath.