"Our will is always for our own good, but we do not always see what that is; the people is never corrupted, but it is often deceived..." (Bk2:3) - Jean-Jacques Rousseau

Princes always are always happy to see developing among their subjects the taste for agreeable arts and for superfluities which do not result in the export of money. For quite apart from the fact that with these they nourish that spiritual pettiness so appropriate for servitude, they know very well that all the needs which people give themselves are so many chains binding them. When Alexander wished to keep the Ichthyophagi dependent on him, he forced them to abandon fishing and to nourish themselves on foods common to other people. And no one has been able to subjugate the savages in America, who go around quite naked and live only from what their hunting provides. In fact, what yoke could be imposed on men who have no need of anything?

Je suis moins tenté de l'argent que des choses, parce qu'entre l'argent et la possession désirée il y a toujours un intermédiaire ; au lieu qu'entre la chose même et sa jouissance il n'y en a point.

Todo cuanto han hecho los hombres, los hombres lo pueden destruir.