As soon as any man says of the affairs of State, What does it matter to me? that State may be given up for lost.
—Jean-Jacques Rousseau
Topics: Self-Discovery
All of my misfortunes come from having thought too well of my fellows.
—Jean-Jacques Rousseau
Topics: Fortune, Misfortunes
It is not our wrong actions which it requires courage to confess, so much as those which are ridiculous and foolish.
—Jean-Jacques Rousseau
The person who has lived the most is not the one with the most years but the one with the richest experiences.
—Jean-Jacques Rousseau
Topics: Time, Age
Take from the philosopher the pleasure of being heard and his desire for knowledge ceases.
—Jean-Jacques Rousseau
Topics: Science, Philosophy
Remorse sleeps during prosperity but awakes bitter consciousness during adversity.
—Jean-Jacques Rousseau
Topics: Repentance, Forgiveness
Most nations, as well as people are impossible only in their youth; they become incorrigible as they grow older.
—Jean-Jacques Rousseau
Topics: Nations, Nationalism, Nationality, Nation
Our will is always for our own good, but we do not always see what that is.
—Jean-Jacques Rousseau
Topics: Goodness
It is a great mistake of many ardent students that they trust too much to their books, and do not draw from their own resources—forgetting that of all sophists our own reason is that which abuses us least.
—Jean-Jacques Rousseau
Topics: Study
Liberty is obedience to the law which one has laid down for oneself.
—Jean-Jacques Rousseau
Topics: Obedience, Liberty
Physical evils destroy themselves, or they destroy us.
—Jean-Jacques Rousseau
Topics: Evils
The world of reality has its limits; the world of imagination is boundless.—Not being able to enlarge the one, let us contract the other; for it is from their difference that all the evils arise which render us unhappy.
—Jean-Jacques Rousseau
Topics: Reality, Imagination
Conscience is the voice of the soul, as the passions are the voice of the body.—No wonder they often contradict each other.
—Jean-Jacques Rousseau
Topics: Conscience
Money is the seed of money, and the first guinea is sometimes more difficult to acquire than the second million.
—Jean-Jacques Rousseau
Topics: Money
All that time is lost which might be better employed.
—Jean-Jacques Rousseau
Topics: Time Management, Value of Time, Time
To renounce liberty is to renounce being a man, to surrender the rights of humanity and even its duties
—Jean-Jacques Rousseau
Topics: Liberty
The English are proud; the French are vain.
—Jean-Jacques Rousseau
Topics: Britain
Accent is the soul of language; it gives to it both feeling and truth.
—Jean-Jacques Rousseau
There are two things to be considered with regard to any scheme. In the first place, “Is it good in itself?” In the second, “Can it be easily put into practice?”
—Jean-Jacques Rousseau
Our affections as well as our bodies are in perpetual flux.
—Jean-Jacques Rousseau
Topics: Love
Great men never make bad use of their superiority; they see it, and feel it, and are not less modest. The more they have, the more they know their own deficiencies.
—Jean-Jacques Rousseau
Topics: Greatness & Great Things, Greatness
Whoever blushes, is already guilty; true innocence is ashamed of nothing.
—Jean-Jacques Rousseau
Brains well prepared are the monuments where human knowledge is most surely engraved.
—Jean-Jacques Rousseau
The first step towards vice is to shroud innocent actions in mystery, and whoever likes to conceal something sooner or later has reason to conceal it.
—Jean-Jacques Rousseau
Topics: Secrets
I also realized that the philosophers, far from ridding me of my vain doubts, only multiplied the doubts that tormented me and failed to remove any one of them. So I chose another guide and said, Let me follow the Inner Light; it will not lead me so far astray as others have done, or if it does it will be my own fault, and I shall not go so far wrong if I follow my own illusions as if I trusted to their deceits
—Jean-Jacques Rousseau
Topics: Philosophy
You forget that the fruits belong to all and that the land belongs to no one.
—Jean-Jacques Rousseau
Topics: Earth
The person who is slowest in making a promise is most faithful in its performance.
—Jean-Jacques Rousseau
Topics: Integrity
Philosophy can do nothing which religion cannot do better than she; and religion can do a great many other things which philosophy cannot do at all.
—Jean-Jacques Rousseau
Topics: Religion
Our greatest evils flow from ourselves.
—Jean-Jacques Rousseau
Topics: Evil
Gratitude is a duty which ought to be paid, but which none have a right to expect.
—Jean-Jacques Rousseau
Topics: Gratitude
Wondering Whom to Read Next?
- Henri Frederic Amiel Swiss Philosopher, Writer
- Voltaire French Philosopher, Author
- Carl Gustav Jung Swiss Psychologist
- Johann Heinrich Pestalozzi Swiss Educator
- Denis Diderot French Philosopher, Writer
- Jean-luc Godard French-born Swiss Film Director
- Hermann Hesse Swiss Novelist, Poet
- Simone de Beauvoir French Philosopher
- Karl Barth Swiss Protestant Theologian
- Immanuel Kant Prussian German Philosopher
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