mas a la sazón contaba treinta años y me hallaba en París, donde no puede vivirse sin contar con algo. - Jean-Jacques Rousseau

To select these objects, to take care to present him constantly with those he may know, to conceal from him those he ought not to know, this is the real way of training his early memory; and in this way you must try to provide him with a storehouse of knowledge which will serve for his education in youth and his conduct throughout life. True, this method does not produce infant prodigies, nor will it reflect glory upon their tutors and governesses, but it produces men, strong, right-thinking men, vigorous both in mind and body, men who do not win admiration as children, but honour as men.

Yo pregunto: de la vida social o natural, ¿cuál está más sujeta a convertirse en insoportable para quienes las disfrutan? Alrededor nuestro casi sólo vemos gentes lamentándose de su existencia y aun algunos que se privan de ella en cuanto está en su poder, no bastando apenas el concurso de la ley divina y de la humana para contener este desorden. Yo pregunto si alguna vez se ha oído decir que un salvaje en libertad hubiera tan sólo pensado en quejarse de la vida o en darse la muerte. Júzguese, pues, con menos orgullo de qué lado se halla la verdadera miseria

The story of human nature is a fair romance. Am I to blame if it is not found elsewhere? I am trying to write the history of mankind. If my book is a romance, the fault lies with those who deprave mankind.