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
animal men sight
Ruthless man: you begin by slaying the animal and then you devour it, as if to slay it twice. It is not enough. You turn against the dead flesh, it revolts you, it must be transformed by fire, boiled and roasted, seasoned and disguised with drugs; you must have butchers, cooks, turnspits, men who will rid the murder of its horrors, who will dress the dead bodies so that the taste decieved by these disguises will not reject what is strange to it, and will feast on corpses, the very sight of which would sicken you.
war dignity virtue
Virtue is a state of war, and to live in it we have always to combat with ourselves.
people wigs bread
We must powder our wigs; that is why so many poor people have no bread.
cat smell rooms
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.
justice judging judgement
Do not judge, and you will never be mistaken.
war believe simple
The first person who, having enclosed a plot of land, took it into his head to say this is mine and found people simple enough to believe him was the true founder of civil society. What crimes, wars, murders, what miseries and horrors would the human race have been spared, had some one pulled up the stakes or filled in the ditch and cried out to his fellow men: "Do not listen to this imposter. You are lost if you forget that the fruits of the earth belong to all and the earth to no one!
different may
I may be no better, but at least I am different.
coward cowardice braggarts
The greatest braggarts are usually the biggest cowards.
heart should
Why should we build our happiness on the opinons of others, when we can find it in our own hearts?
inspirational life motivational
Happiness: a good bank account, a good cook, and a good digestion.
life faith philosophical
Those that are most slow in making a promise are the most faithful in the performance of it.
life business philosophical
It is too difficult to think nobly when one thinks only of earning a living.
happiness running years
You are worried about seeing him spend his early years in doing nothing. What! Is it nothing to be happy? Nothing to skip, play and run around all day long? Never in his life will he be so busy again.
hurt children important
The only moral lesson which is suited for a child--the most important lesson for every time of life--is this: 'Never hurt anybody.