The Quotes canon
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Every quote has been curated by hand and carefully authenticated.
Browse all 10,075 quotes or apply filters in different categories to narrow your search.
Browse all 10,075 quotes or apply filters in different categories to narrow your search.
Accumulation of wealth1 quote
Money is the seed of money, and the first guinea is sometimes more difficult to acquire than the second million. — Jean-Jacques Rousseau · 1755Alienation1 quote
To be misunderstood even by those whom one loves is the cross and bitterness of life. It is the secret of that sad and melancholy smile on the lips of great men which so few understand; it is the cruelest trial reserved for self-devotion; it is what must have oftenest wrung the heart of the Son of man; and if God could suffer, it would be the wound we should be forever inflicting upon Him. He also-He above all-is the great misunderstood, the least comprehended. — Henri-Frederic Amiel · 1849Censorship1 quote
Censorship is crucial for preserving morals but useless for restoring them. — Jean-Jacques Rousseau · 1762Civil society1 quote
The first man who, having fenced in a piece of land, said, "This is mine," and found people naïve enough to believe him, that man was the true founder of civil society. — Jean-Jacques Rousseau · 1755Credulity1 quote
Hatred, as well as love, renders its votaries credulous. — Jean-Jacques Rousseau · 1781Democracy1 quote
In the strict sense of the term, a true democracy has never existed, and never will exist. — Jean-Jacques Rousseau · 1762Freedom1 quote
Man is born free; and everywhere he is in chains. — Jean-Jacques Rousseau · 1762Imperialism1 quote
The right of conquest has no foundation other than the right of the strongest. — Jean-Jacques Rousseau · 1762Inner life1 quote
The man who has no inner life is a slave to his surroundings. — Henri-Frederic Amiel · 1883Liberation1 quote
Man is born free; and everywhere he is in chains. — Jean-Jacques Rousseau · 1762Looking back1 quote
Should I live for centuries, the sweet period of my youth would not be reborn, nor effaced from my memory. — Jean-Jacques Rousseau · 1761Money1 quote
Money is the seed of money, and the first guinea is sometimes more difficult to acquire than the second million. — Jean-Jacques Rousseau · 1755Morality1 quote
Censorship is crucial for preserving morals but useless for restoring them. — Jean-Jacques Rousseau · 1762Nature of power1 quote
The strongest is never strong enough to be always the master, unless he transforms his strength into right, and obedience into duty. — Jean-Jacques Rousseau · 1762Political community1 quote
The body politic, like the human body, begins to die from its birth, and bears in itself the cause of its destruction. — Jean-Jacques Rousseau · 1762Property rights1 quote
The first man who, having fenced in a piece of land, said, "This is mine," and found people naïve enough to believe him, that man was the true founder of civil society. — Jean-Jacques Rousseau · 1755Regret1 quote
Remorse sleeps during a prosperous period but wakes up in adversity. — Jean-Jacques Rousseau · 1781Remembering one's youth1 quote
Should I live for centuries, the sweet period of my youth would not be reborn, nor effaced from my memory. — Jean-Jacques Rousseau · 1761Remorse1 quote
Remorse sleeps during a prosperous period but wakes up in adversity. — Jean-Jacques Rousseau · 1781Seeking happiness1 quote
The thirst after happiness is never extinguished in the heart of man. — Jean-Jacques Rousseau · 1789Talking too much1 quote
People who know little are usually great talkers, while men who know much say little. — Jean-Jacques Rousseau · 1762The human condition1 quote
Man is born free; and everywhere he is in chains. — Jean-Jacques Rousseau · 1762Things get worse1 quote
The body politic, like the human body, begins to die from its birth, and bears in itself the cause of its destruction. — Jean-Jacques Rousseau · 1762Thinking for oneself1 quote
The man who has no inner life is a slave to his surroundings. — Henri-Frederic Amiel · 1883Youth1 quote
Should I live for centuries, the sweet period of my youth would not be reborn, nor effaced from my memory. — Jean-Jacques Rousseau · 1761