The Social Contract quotes
8 quotes from The Social Contract by Jean-Jacques Rousseau, each verified verbatim against the text and located in the book.
The Social Contract
Jean-Jacques Rousseau
About Jean-Jacques Rousseau
Man is born free; and everywhere he is in chains. One thinks himself the master of others, and still remains a greater slave than they.
The strongest is never strong enough to be always the master, unless he transforms strength into right, and obedience into duty.
Each of us puts his person and all his power in common under the supreme direction of the general will, and, in our corporate capacity, we receive each member as an indivisible part of the whole.
whoever refuses to obey the general will shall be compelled to do so by the whole body. This means nothing less than that he will be forced to be free
the people is never corrupted, but it is often deceived, and on such occasions only does it seem to will what is bad.
Were there a people of gods, their government would be democratic. So perfect a government is not for men.
The people of England regards itself as free; but it is grossly mistaken; it is free only during the election of members of parliament. As soon as they are elected, slavery overtakes it, and it is nothing.
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.
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