Astronomy was born of superstition; eloquence of ambition, hatred, falsehood, and flattery; geometry of avarice; physics of an idle curiosity; and even moral philosophy of human pride. Thus the arts and sciences owe their birth to our vices. Jean-Baptiste Rousseau More Quotes by Jean-Baptiste Rousseau More Quotes From Jean-Baptiste Rousseau Men always love what is good or what they find good; it is in judging what is good that they go wrong. Jean-Baptiste Rousseau judging men The right of conquest has no foundation other than the right of the strongest. Jean-Baptiste Rousseau conquest strongest foundation The less reasonable a cult is, the more men seek to establish it by force. Jean-Baptiste Rousseau atheism political men The man who has lived the longest is not he who has spent the greatest number of years, but he who has had the greatest sensibility of life. Jean-Baptiste Rousseau numbers men years To reign by opinion, begin by trampling it under your feet. Jean-Baptiste Rousseau reign opinion feet As soon as public service ceases to be the chief business of the citizens, and they would rather serve with their money than with their persons, the State is not far from its fall. Jean-Baptiste Rousseau public-service citizens fall Every artist loves applause. The praise of his contemporaries is the most valuable part of his recompense. Jean-Baptiste Rousseau applause artist praise Were there a people of gods, their government would be democratic. So perfect a government is not for men. Jean-Baptiste Rousseau perfect men people Truth is no road to fortune. Jean-Baptiste Rousseau truth-is truth fortune What man loses by the social contract is his natural liberty and an unlimited right to everything he tries to get and succeeds in getting; what he gains is civil liberty and the proprietorship of all he possesses. Jean-Baptiste Rousseau society trying men Each State can have for enemies only other States, and not men; for between things disparate in nature there can be no real relation. Jean-Baptiste Rousseau real men enemy Youth is the time to study wisdom; old age is the time to practice it. Jean-Baptiste Rousseau wisdom practice age It should be remembered that the foundation of the social contract is property; and its first condition, that every one should be maintained in the peaceful possession of what belongs to him. Jean-Baptiste Rousseau foundation peaceful firsts The Catholic must adopt the decision handed down to him; the Protestant must learn to decide for himself. Jean-Baptiste Rousseau catholic decision christian Do we wish men to be virtuous? Then let us begin by making them love their country. Jean-Baptiste Rousseau patriotism men country Readiness of speech is often inability to hold the tongue. Jean-Baptiste Rousseau inability tongue speech They must know but little of mankind who can imagine that, after they have been once seduced by luxury, they can ever renounce it. Jean-Baptiste Rousseau luxury imagine littles Old men grasp more at life than babies, and leave it with a much worse grace than young people. It is because all their labours having been for this life, they perceive at last their trouble lost. Jean-Baptiste Rousseau baby men people Coercion created slavery, the cowardice of the slaves perpetuated it. Jean-Baptiste Rousseau cowardice slavery coercion The vine that has been made to bear fruit in the spring, withers and dies before autumn. Jean-Baptiste Rousseau vines autumn spring
