47 quotes
Genevan philosopher, writer, and composer (1712–1778)
“To renounce freedom is to renounce one's humanity, one's rights as a man and equally one's duties.”
"Man was born free and everywhere he is in shackles."
on Freedom
"Man is born free, and everywhere he is in chains."
"What wisdom can you find that is greater than kindness?"
on Wisdom
"I prefer liberty with danger than peace with slavery."
"To renounce liberty is to renounce being a man, to surrender the rights of humanity and even its duties."
"Our will is always for our own good, but we do not always see what that is."
on Philosophy
"The world of reality has its limits the world of imagination is boundless."
on Imagination
"Why should we build our happiness on the opinons of others, when we can find it in our own hearts?"
on Happiness
"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."
"Falsehood has an infinity of combinations, but truth has only one mode of being."
on Truth
"Virtue is a state of war, and to live in it we have always to combat with ourselves."
"Our will is always for our own good, but we do not always see what that is; the people is never corrupted, but it is often deceived..." (Bk2:3)"
"Liberty may be gained, but can never be recovered." (Bk2:8)"
"We cannot teach children the danger of lying to men without feeling as men, the greater danger of lying to children."
"If there were a nation of Gods, it would govern itself democratically. A government so perfect is not suited to men."
on Democracy
"Absolute silence leads to sadness. It is the image of death."
on Sadness
"Nature never deceives us it is we who deceive ourselves."
on Nature
"To write a good love letter you ought to begin without knowing what you mean to say and to finish without knowing what you have written."
on Love
"Little privations are easily endured when the heart is better treated than the body."
on Health
"How many famous and high-spirited heroes have lived a day too long?"
on Life
