Quotes from Jean-Jacques Rousseau

The world is the book of women. Whatever knowledge they may possess is more commonly acquired by observation than by reading.

When a man dies he clutches in his hands only that which he has given away during his lifetime.

Man was born free, and he is everywhere in chains. Those who think themselves the masters of others are indeed greater slaves than they.

The man is best served who has no occasion to put the hands of others at the end of his own arms.

The man who gets the most out of life is not the one who has lived it longest, but the one who has felt life most deeply.

All through life a man has need of a counsellor and guide.

Provided a man is not mad, he can be cured of every folly but vanity.

The man who meditates is a depraved animal.

Everything made by man may be destroyed by man; there are no ineffaceable characters except those engraved by nature; and nature makes neither princes nor rich men nor great lords.

Women speak at an earlier age, more easily, and more agreeably than men; they are accused also of speaking more; this is as it should be, and I willingly change the reproach into a eulogy.

The most absolute authority is that which penetrates into a man's innermost being and concerns itself no less with his will than with his actions.

To make a man richer, give him more money of curb his desires.

An honest man nearly always thinks justly.

Every blue-stocking will remain a spinster as long as there are sensible men on the earth. [Fr., Toute fille lettree restera fille toute sa vie, quand il n'y aura que des hommes senses sur la terre.]

Presence of mind, penetration, fine observation, are the sciences of women; ability to avail themselves of these is their talent.

Men speak from knowledge, women from imagination.

The writings of women are always cold and pretty like themselves. There is as much wit as you may desire, but never any soul.

It is unnatural for a majority to rule, for a majority can seldom be organized and united for specific action, and a minority can.

We cannot work for others without working for ourselves.

As soon as any man says of the affairs of the State What does it matter to me? the State may be given up for lost.

In any case, frequent punishments are a sign of weakness or slackness in the government. There is no man so bad that he cannot be made good for something. No man should be put to death, even as an example, if he can be left to live without danger to society.

It is as if my heart and my brain did not belong to the same person. Feelings come quicker than lightning and fill my soul, but they bring me no illumination; they burn me and dazzle me.

There is nothing better than the encouragement of a good friend.

Once you teach people to say what they do not understand, it is easy enough to get them to say anything you like.