Jean-Jacques Rousseau
Genevan philosopher and writer (1712 to 1778), born in Geneva; author of the Discourses, Emile and The Social Contract.
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What they believe
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People are born free, yet everywhere they are in chains
Man is born free; and everywhere he is in chains.
gutenberg.orgSaid c. 1762This on korrents
The bold line is korrents’ wording; the quote is theirs. These one: what they wrote before what they said aloud, one per source, newest first.
Beliefs
Korrents What they believe 8 beliefs — each backed by an exact quote.
Each is a — compiled by korrents.com, not by them: the one-line wordings are korrents', the quotes are theirs.
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People are born free, yet everywhere they are in chains
Man is born free; and everywhere he is in chains.
The Social Contract (tr. G. D. H. Cole, 1913) Said c. 1762
The strongest is never strong enough to stay master unless strength is turned into right and obedience into duty
The strongest is never strong enough to be always the master, unless he transforms strength into right, and obedience into duty.
The Social Contract (tr. G. D. H. Cole, 1913) Said c. 1762
Renouncing liberty means renouncing being human, giving up the rights of humanity and even its duties
To renounce liberty is to renounce being a man, to surrender the rights of humanity and even its duties.
The Social Contract (tr. G. D. H. Cole, 1913) Said c. 1762
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Whoever refuses to obey the general will must be compelled by the whole body, which means being forced to be free
In order then that the social compact may not be an empty formula, it tacitly includes the undertaking, which alone can give force to the rest, that whoever refuses to obey the general will shall be compelled to do so by the whole body. This means nothing less than that he will be forced to be free; for this is the condition which, by giving each citizen to his country, secures him against all personal dependence.
The Social Contract (tr. G. D. H. Cole, 1913) Said c. 1762
The general will is always right and aims at the public good, but the people's deliberations are not always equally correct
It follows from what has gone before that the general will is always right and tends to the public advantage; but it does not follow that the deliberations of the people are always equally correct.
The Social Contract (tr. G. D. H. Cole, 1913) Said c. 1762
Sovereignty cannot be represented; a law the people has not ratified in person is null and void
Sovereignty, for the same reason as makes it inalienable, cannot be represented; it lies essentially in the general will, and will does not admit of representation: it is either the same, or other; there is no intermediate possibility. The deputies of the people, therefore, are not and cannot be its representatives: they are merely its stewards, and can carry through no definitive acts. Every law the people has not ratified in person is null and void—is, in fact, not a law.
The Social Contract (tr. G. D. H. Cole, 1913) Said c. 1762
The English people think themselves free but are mistaken; they are free only while electing members of parliament
The people of England regards itself as free; but it is grossly mistaken; it is free only during the election of members of parliament. As soon as they are elected, slavery overtakes it, and it is nothing.
The Social Contract (tr. G. D. H. Cole, 1913) Said c. 1762
A people of gods would govern itself democratically; so perfect a government is not for humans
Were there a people of gods, their government would be democratic. So perfect a government is not for men.
The Social Contract (tr. G. D. H. Cole, 1913) Said c. 1762
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