Freedom is not the power to do what we want， but the right to do what we ought.
Nature never deceives us； it is always we who deceive ourselves.
The first step towards philosophy is incredulity.
The more we love our friends， the less we flatter them； it is by excusing nothing that pure love shows itself.
To write a good love letter， you ought to begin without knowing what you mean to say， and to finish without knowing what you have written.
I cannot but be astonished that Socrates， after having so often repeated to his fellow citizens that he did not pretend to any wisdom， but had been appointed by the gods to a mission of benevolence towards them， should have been condemned to death.
The general will is always right， but the judgment which guides it is not always enlightened.
Man is the artisan of his own happiness.
Patience is bitter， but its fruit is sweet.
What wisdom can you find that is greater than kindness？
Man is so much the voice of his interest that it is not enough to make him see the right， but you must make him feel it.
The first man who， having enclosed a piece of ground， bethought himself of saying 'This is mine，' and found people simple enough to believe him， was the real founder of civil society.
To live outside the law， you must be honest.
We are all bound by the social contract to obey the laws， but we also have the right to participate in making those laws.
I prefer liberty with danger to peace with slavery.
The strongest is never strong enough to be always the master unless he transforms strength into right and obedience into duty.
Man is good by nature， society corrupts him.