I hate books; they only teach us to talk about things we know nothing about.

Liberty is obedience to the law which one has laid down for oneself

Whoever refuses to obey the general will will be forced to do so by the entire body; this means merely that he will be forced to be free.

In the North the first words are, Help me; in the South, Love me.

I would rather be a man of paradoxes than a man of prejudices.

It is to law alone that men owe justice and liberty. It is this salutary organ, of the will of all which establishes in civil rights the natural equality between men. It is this celestial voice which dictates to each citizen the precepts of public reason, and teaches him to act according to the rules of his own judgment and not to behave inconsistently with himself. It is with this voice alone that political leaders should speak when. they command.

I have never thought, for my part, that man's freedom consists in his being able to do whatever he wills, but that he should not, by any human power, be forced to do what is against his will.