Abstaining so as really to enjoy, is the epicurism, the very perfection, of reason. Jean-Jacques Rousseau More Quotes by Jean-Jacques Rousseau More Quotes From Jean-Jacques Rousseau 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. Jean-Jacques Rousseau ableshouldmen We cannot teach children the danger of telling lies to men without realising, on the man's part, the danger of telling lies to children. A single untruth on the part of the master will destroy the results of his education. Jean-Jacques Rousseau menlyingchildren I perceive God everywhere in His works. I sense Him in me; I see Him all around me. Jean-Jacques Rousseau perceivefaith 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. Jean-Jacques Rousseau rightsexercisemen Every man having been born free and master of himself, no one else may under any pretext whatever subject him without his consent. To assert that the son of a slave is born a slave is to assert that he is not born a man. Jean-Jacques Rousseau maymenson The empire of woman is an empire of softness, of address, of complacency. Her commands are caresses, her menaces are tears. Jean-Jacques Rousseau addresseswomentears All of my misfortunes come from having thought too well of my fellows. Jean-Jacques Rousseau fellowsphilosophicalwells There exists one book, which, to my taste, furnishes the happiest treatise of natural education. What then is this marvelous book? Is it Aristotle? Is it Pliny, is it Buffon? No-it is Robinson Crusoe. Jean-Jacques Rousseau buffoneducationbook General abstract truth is the most precious of all blessings; without it, man is blind; it is the eye of reason. Jean-Jacques Rousseau eyetruthmen Fame is but the breath of people, and that often unwholesome. Jean-Jacques Rousseau philosophicalphilosophypeople Watch a cat when it enters a room for the first time. It searches and smells about, it is not quiet for a moment, it trusts nothing until it has examined and made acquaintance with everything. Jean-Jacques Rousseau smellcatwatches Money is the seed of money, and the first guinea is sometimes more difficult to acquire than the second million. Jean-Jacques Rousseau richesmoneyfirsts Temperance and labor are the two best physicians of man; labor sharpens the appetite, and temperance prevents from indulging to excess Jean-Jacques Rousseau physiciansmentwo The one thing we do not know is the limit of the knowable. Jean-Jacques Rousseau limitsknowsknowledge Self-love is an instrument useful but dangerous; it often wounds the hand which makes use of it, and seldom does good without doing harm. Jean-Jacques Rousseau selflove-ishands That which renders life burdensome to us generally arises from the abuse of it. Jean-Jacques Rousseau abuseennuiarise Do to others as you would have others do to you, inspires all men with that other maxim of natural goodness a great deal less perfect, but perhaps more useful: Do good to yourself with as little prejudice as you can to others. Jean-Jacques Rousseau perfectmeninspire 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. Jean-Jacques Rousseau taxationmayneeds A child who passes through many hands in turn, can never be well brought up. At every change he makes a secret comparison, which continually tends to lessen his respect for those who control him, and with it their authority over him. If once he thinks there are grown-up people with no more sense than children the authority of age is destroyed and his education is ruined. Jean-Jacques Rousseau childrenhandsthinking Ought to have a universal compulsory force to move and arrange each part in the manner best suited to the whole. Just as nature gives each man an absolute power over all his members, the social compact gives the body politic an absolute power over all its members." "We grant that each person alienates, by the social compact, only that portion of his power, his goods, and liberty whose use is of consequence to the community; but we must also grant that only the sovereign is the judge of what is of consequence. Jean-Jacques Rousseau givingmenmoving
