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Jean-Jacques Rousseau

Jean-Jacques Rousseau Quotes

Philosopher

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Famous Jean-Jacques Rousseau Quotes

“People who know little are usually great talkers, while men who know much say little. It is plain that an ignorant person thinks everything he does know important, and he tells it to everybody. But a well-educated man is not so ready to display his learning; he would have too much to say, and he sees that there is much more to be said, so he holds his peace.”

PeopleThinkingKnowsMenWellsLittlesPersonsDoeSaidImportantKnowledgeToo MuchReadyIgnorantEducatedDisplayTalkersWell EducatedEducated ManIgnorant Person
Book:Emile
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“But I am mistaken in speaking of a Christian republic; the terms are mutually exclusive. Christianity preaches only servitude and dependence. Its spirit is so favorable to tyranny that it always profits by such a regime. True Christians are made to be slaves, and they know it and do not much mind; this short life counts for too little in their eyes.”

KnowsMindLittlesMadeEyeChristianSpiritTermChristianitySlaveProfitTyrannyRepublicRegimesMistakenDependenceExclusiveServitudeShort LifeBe A Slave
Book:On the Social Contract
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“Sovereigns always see with pleasure a taste for the arts of amusement and superfluity, which do not result in the exportation of bullion, increase among their subjects. They very well know that, besides nourishing that littleness of mind which is proper to slavery, the increase of artificial wants only binds so many more chains upon the people.”

PeopleKnowsWantMindWellsArtPleasureResultsSubjectsTasteIncreaseSlaveryChainsArtificialAmusement
Book:The Social Contract
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“Teach your scholar to observe the phenomena of nature; you will soon rouse his curiosity, but if you would have it grow, do not be in too great a hurry to satisfy this curiosity. Put the problems before him and let him solve them himself. Let him know nothing because you have told him, but because he has learnt it for himself. Let him not be taught science, let him discover it. If ever you substitute authority for reason he will cease to reason; he will be a mere plaything of other people's thoughts.”

PeopleIfsKnowsReasonProblemGrowsTeachTaughtAuthorityMereCuriositySolveCeaseSubstitutesScholar
Author:Jean-Jacques Rousseau
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“I will say little of the importance of a good education; nor will I stop to prove that the current one is bad. Countless others have done so before me, and I do not like to fill a book with things everybody knows. I will note that for the longest time there has been nothing but a cry against the established practice without anyone taking it upon himself to propose a better one. The literature and the learning of our age tend much more to destruction than to edification.”

KnowsLittlesHas BeensBookDoneAgeLiteraturePracticeCryProveDestructionImportanceNotesCurrentsEducationalProposeGood EducationEdification
Book:Jean-Jacgues Rousseau Emile or On Education
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“[When anything happens, we interpret it as good or bad, but...] We do not know what is really good or bad fortune. [Only the future can decide. For example, what appears to be bad today may in fact lead us to a greater good tomorrow and by the very act of thinking and planning in that positive way, we can help make that good future come true.]”

ThinkingKnowsWayMayFactsHelpingHappensTodayGreaterExampleTomorrowFortunePlanningThings HappenAnticipationGreater GoodBad FortuneGood Future
Author:Jean-Jacques Rousseau
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