Inspirational Quotations

Inspirational Quotes by Jean-Jacques Rousseau (French Philosopher)

Jean-Jacques Rousseau (1712–78) was a Swiss-born French philosopher, author, political theorist, and composer. In many respects an original and contentious thinker, Rousseau’s significant works raised deep-seated questions in the fields of ethics, education, politics, and aesthetics. He ranks as one of the greatest intellectuals of the French Enlightenment and the Romantic generation.

Rousseau’s original thinking was that humans are by nature good, but are soiled by society. He endorsed a humanistic and progressive educational system that would develop the natural interests and potential of the child.

Born in Geneva, Switzerland, Rousseau had no formal education. In 1741, he moved to Paris to make a living from clerical work and music-copying. He became acquainted with Voltaire and Denis Diderot and contributed articles on music and political economy to the Encyclopédie.

In the 1750s, Rousseau came to fame with his Discourse on the Origin and Basis of Inequality Among Men (1754) and other essays that were highly critical of the existing social order. He expressed his belief in the fundamental goodness of human nature, summarized in the concept of the “noble savage,” and the warping effects of civilization.

In 1762, Rousseau published his masterpiece, Du contrat social (A Treatise on the Social Contract, 1764,) which anticipated much of the thinking of the French Revolution. Social Contract argues for a version of the sovereignty of the whole citizen body over itself, expressing its legislative intent through the general will. One of Rousseau’s most notable axioms, “Man is born free; and everywhere he is in chains,” comes from the Social Contract and has been a rallying-cry for rebels and reformers ever since.

In his novel Émile (1762,) Rousseau formulated new educational philosophies giving the child full scope for individual development in natural surroundings, protected from the corrupting influences of civilization.

Rousseau is also noted for his Les Confessions (1782–89; Confessions, 1783–91,) one of the earliest autobiographies. In 1794, his remains were placed alongside those of Voltaire in Paris’s Pantheon.

More: Wikipedia • READ: Works by Jean-Jacques Rousseau

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?

Comments

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *