Authors / Jean-Jacques Rousseau

Jean-Jacques Rousseau quotes

1712–1778 · Genevan philosopher and writer

Rousseau argued that society corrupts people born good. His ideas fed the French Revolution — and one of the most famous lines of the Revolution was his.

2 real · 0 not theirs

Really theirs

2 quotes traced to Jean-Jacques Rousseau's own work or a reliable witness.

Sourced

Man is born free, and everywhere he is in chains.

Source: The Social Contract, Book I, ch. 1 (1762)

Sourced

Let them eat brioche.

Rousseau credits it to "a great princess". Marie Antoinette was a child in Austria at the time — she never said "let them eat cake".

Source: Confessions, Book VI (written c. 1765)