Man is born free, and everywhere he is in chains. Here's one who thinks he is the master of others, yet he is more enslaved than they are. - Jean-Jacques Rousseau

Real wisdom is not the knowledge of everything, but the knowledge of which things in life are necessary, which are less necessary, and which are completely unnecessary to know. Among the most necessary knowledge is the knowledge of how to live well, that is, how to produce the least possible evil and the greatest goodness in one’s life. At present, people study useless sciences, but forget to study this, the most important knowledge.

When you reached the age of reason, I secured you from the influence of human prejudice; when your heart awoke I preserved you from the sway of passion. Had I been able to prolong this inner tranquillity till your life's end, my work would have been secure, and you would have been as happy as man can be; but, my dear Emile, in vain did I dip you in the waters of Styx, I could not make you everywhere invulnerable; a fresh enemy has appeared, whom you have not yet learnt to conquer, and from whom I cannot save you. That enemy is yourself. Nature and fortune had left you free. You could face poverty, you could bear bodily pain; the sufferings of the heart were unknown to you; you were then dependent on nothing but your position as a human being; now you depend on all the ties you have formed for yourself; you have learnt to desire, and you are now the slave of your desires. Without any change in yourself, without any insult, any injury to yourself, what sorrows may attack your soul, what pains may you suffer without sickness, how many deaths may you die and yet live! A lie, an error, a suspicion, may plunge you in despair.

لقد ولد الإنسان ليعمل لا ليفكر..
إن التفكير لا يجعل منه إلا إنسانا تعيسا ولا يجعله أفضل او أعقل.
إن التفكير يجعله يندم على الأشياء التي أضاعها و يحرمه من التمتع بحاضره .
و التفكير يزين له المستقبل التعيس ليجعله يحس بذلك قبل وقوعه..
إن الدراسة تفسد أخلاقه و تمرض صحته و تحطم مزاجه و تميع حجته..
و إذا ما كانت تعلمه شيئا ما فإني أجد أنها تضر به أكثر مما تعلمه