Jean-Jacques Rousseau
Jean-Jacques Rousseau
Jean-Jacques Rousseauwas a Francophone Genevan philosopher, writer, and composer of the 18th century. His political philosophy influenced the Enlightenment in France and across Europe, as well as aspects of the French Revolution and the overall development of modern political and educational thought...
NationalityFrench
ProfessionPhilosopher
Date of Birth28 June 1712
CityGeneva, Switzerland
CountryFrance
evil flow
Our greatest evil flows from ourselves.
periods backwards
There is a period in life when we go backwards as we advance.
opportunity presence-of-mind talent
Presence of mind, penetration, fine observation, are the sciences of women; ability to avail themselves of these is their talent.
equality practice abuse
Equality is deemed by many a mere speculative chimera, which can never be reduced to practice. But if the abuse is inevitable, does it follow that we ought not to try at least to mitigate it? It is precisely because the force of things tends always to destroy equality that the force of the legislature must always tend to maintain it.
government combination circumstances
The science of government is only a science of combinations, of applications, and of exceptions, according to times, places and circumstances.
writing soul desire
The writings of women are always cold and pretty like themselves. There is as much wit as you may desire, but never any soul.
sex artist giving
It is well known that a loose and easy dress contributes much to give to both sexes those fine proportions of body that are observable in the Grecian statues, and which serve as models to our present artists.
evil
Physical evils destroy themselves, or they destroy us.
men giving desire
To make a man richer, give him more money of curb his desires.
men hands independence
The man is best served who has no occasion to put the hands of others at the end of his own arms.
order sick grace
Gracefulness cannot subsist without ease; delicacy is not debility; nor must a woman be sick in order to please. Infirmity, and sickness may excite our pity, but desire and pleasure require the bloom and vigor of health.
men imagination speak
Men speak from knowledge, women from imagination.
simple expression soul
It is believed that physiognomy is only a simple development of the features already marked out by nature. It is my opinion, however, that in addition to this development, the features come insensibly to be formed and assume their shape from the frequent and habitual expression of certain affections of the soul. These affections are marked on the countenance; nothing is more certain than this; and when they turn into habits, they must leave on it durable impressions.
reading heart trying
It is always a poor way of reading the hearts of others to try to conceal our own. [Fr., C'est toujours un mauvais moyen de lire dans le coeur des autres que d'affecter de cacher le sien.]