But I am mistaken in speaking of a Christian republic; the terms are mutually exclusive. Christianity preaches only servitude and dependence. Its spirit is so favorable to tyranny that it always profits by such a regime. True Christians are made to be slaves, and they know it and do not much mind; this short life counts for too little in their eyes.

Taste is, so to speak, the microscope of the judgment.

Teach by doing whenever you can, and only fall back upon words when doing it is out of the question.

Nothing is less in our power than the heart, and far from commanding we are forced to obey it.

The general will is always right.

At first we will only skim the surface of the earth like young starlings, but soon, emboldened by practice and experience, we will spring into the air with the impetuousness of the eagle, diverting ourselves by watching the childish behavior of the little men or awling miserably around on the earth below us.

People in their natural state are basically good. But this natural innocence,however, is corrupted by the evils of society.