Rousseau and Revolution Quotes

“privately he composed—in French—a poem expressing his pleasure at having given the French a kick in the cul, which Carlyle delicately translated as “the seat of honor.”
― Will Durant, Rousseau and Revolution

“The division of members into Tories or Whigs had by 1761 lost nearly all significance; the real division was between supporters and opponents of the current “government,” or ministry, or of the king. By and large the Tories protected the landed interest; the Whigs were willing now and then to consider the desires of the business class; otherwise both Tories and Whigs were equally conservative. Neither party legislated for the benefit of the masses.”
― Will Durant, Rousseau and Revolution

“To his alert mind and ears, every experience was education.”
― Will Durant, Rousseau and Revolution

“Political society has made the many the property of the few.”
― Will Durant, Rousseau and Revolution

“Law is injustice codified; it protects the idle rich against the exploited poor,26 and adds a new evil—lawyers.27”
― Will Durant, Rousseau and Revolution

“even a tax on the tax-collecting farmers general.”
― Will Durant, Rousseau and Revolution

“In order to prevent self-interest and ill-conceived projects, and all such dangerous innovations as finally ruined the Athenians, each man should not be at liberty to propose new laws at pleasure; this right should belong exclusively to the magistrates.... It is above all the great antiquity of the laws which makes them sacred and venerable; men soon learn to despise laws which they see daily altered; and states, by accustoming themselves to neglect their ancient customs under the pretext of improvement, often introduce greater evils than those they endeavor to remove.109”
― Will Durant, Rousseau and Revolution

“in both cases the desire for knowledge had ended bliss. Sophisticates”
― Will Durant, Rousseau and Revolution

“One proof of the excellence of this amiable woman’s character is that all who loved her loved each other, even jealousy and rivalry submitting to the more powerful sentiment with which she inspired them; and I never saw any of those who surrounded her entertain the least ill will among themselves. Let the reader pause a moment in this encomium, and if he can recollect any other woman who deserves it, let him attach himself to her if he would obtain happiness.”
― Will Durant, Rousseau and Revolution