It is in Rousseau's writing above all that history begins to turn from upper-class honour to middle-class humanitarianism. Pity, sympathy and compassion lie at the centre of his moral vision. Values associated with the feminine begin to infiltrate social existence as a whole, rather than being confined to the domestic sphere.

Nations sometimes flourish by denying the crimes that brought them into being. Only when the original invasion, occupation, extermination or usurpation has been safely thrust into the political unconscious can sovereignty feel secure.

It is false to believe that the sun revolves around the earth, but it is not absurd.

I enjoy popularisation and I think I'm reasonably good at it. I also think it's a duty. It's just so pedagogically stupid to forget how difficult one found these ideas oneself to begin with.

Man eternally tries to get back to an organic past that has slipped just beyond his reach.

I say that virtue is really all about enjoying yourself, living fully; but of course it is far from obvious what living fully actually means.

Successful revolutions are those which end up by erasing all traces of themselves.