Monsieur Rousseau whose 300th birthday is being celebrated today – well, more less than more – like many others gave evidence that he who writes a lot not seldom does write a lot of rubbish, such as
——• Man is born free and everywhere he is in chains.
——• Man is born free and everywhere he is in chains.
However, being no blind hen one could find some grains of corn, so to write.
• People who know little are usually great talkers, while men who know much say little.
• No man has any natural authority over his fellow men.
• Ordinary readers, forgive my paradoxes: one must make
them when one reflects; and whatever you may say, I prefer being a man
with paradoxes than a man with prejudices.
• However great a man's natural talent may be, the act of writing cannot be learned all at once.
The peace of the night.
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteStill it was fun to review a bit of Rousseau. I had not thought of him ever since I had to study his prose in college, at 18 years old.
ReplyDeletePeople who know little are usually great talkers, while men who know much say little.
ReplyDeleteIs that the reason that I sit back and listen before opening my mouth to speak? And when open my mouth to speak I feel my thoughts can add value to the discussion...
I am not a great talker, I much prefer to listen to other peoples thoughts, but am always willing to share mine :-)
I know I have much to learn.
All very wise words Sean
ReplyDeleteClaude,
ReplyDeleteyou are sure you did not forget to cancel your third comment?
Just let me know when you wish to have cancelled evrything, which is Omnium. I might not think twice.
I consider Rousseau an idiot, by the way.
CherryPie,
you seem to be wiser than Rousseau. :)
Yes, Jams,
he who writeth much sometimes does even write no nonsense.
Exactly what I think of Rousseau, Sean.
ReplyDeleteI wanted the third comment to stay. It was fun to find out that what I thought at 18 about him was still valid at 82.
The first two comments were a bit didactic and judgmental. People can decide on their own if Rousseau is worth any attention.
When cleaning up my email box, I was glad to still have the chance to delete the comments.
Claude,
ReplyDeletewith the exception of myself, aren't we all a bit judgmental?
Anyway, to keep your comments, I need to be a tiny bit less lazy in answering comments, hm? Ah! If only I could overcome the laziness to switch on this very PC. ...
:)
Enjoy being lazy, Sean....:)
ReplyDeleteNo comments of mine are that important that they should be answered instantly. And if they disappear, nothing much is ever lost!
La paix de la nuit!