Emile, Jean-Jacques Rousseau [fantasy books to read txt] 📗

partans better than himself. I suppose hewas in earnest; there is no reason to doubt it. That was a citizen.

A Spartan mother had five sons with the army. A Helot arrived;trembling she asked his news. "Your five sons are slain." "Vileslave, was that what I asked thee?" "We have won the victory."She hastened to the temple to render thanks to the gods. That wasa citizen.

He who would preserve the supremacy of natural feelings in sociallife knows not what he asks. Ever at war with himself, hesitatingbetween his wishes and his duties, he will be neither a man nora citizen. He will be of no use to himself nor to others. He willbe a man of our day, a Frenchman, an Englishman, one of the greatmiddle class.

To be something, to be himself, and always at one with himself, aman must act as he speaks, must know what course he ought to take,and must follow that course with vigour and persistence. When Imeet this miracle it will be time enough to decide whether he isa man or a citizen, or how he cont