The social pact, far from destroying natural equality, substitutes, on the contrary, a moral and lawful equality for whatever physical inequality that nature may have imposed on mankind; so that however unequal in strength and intelligence, men become equal by covenant and by right.

For, as I think I have said, I can only meditate when I am walking. When I stop I cease to think; my mind only works with my legs.

It is manifestly contrary to the law of nature, however defined, that a handful of people should gorge themselves with superfluities while the hungry majority goes in need of necessities.

The mind grows narrow in proportion as the soul grows corrupt.

Everything is good as it comes from the hands of the Maker of the world, but degenerates once it gets into the hands of man

Remorse sleeps during prosperity but awakes bitter consciousness during adversity.

Two things, almost incompatible, are united in me in a manner which I am unable to understand: a very ardent temperament, lively and tumultuous passions, and, at the same time, slowly developed and confused ideas, which never present themselves until it is too late. One might say that my heart and my mind do not belong to the same person.