--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: To reign by opinion, begin by trampling…" description: "\"To reign by opinion, begin by trampling it under your feet.\" — Jean-Baptiste Rousseau" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ed/jean-baptiste-rousseau-26610_feet_to-reign-by-opinion-begin-by-trampling-i_1493801.png" --- # To reign by opinion, begin by trampling it under your feet. ![“To reign by opinion, begin by trampling it under your feet.” quote by Jean-Baptiste Rousseau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ed/jean-baptiste-rousseau-26610_feet_to-reign-by-opinion-begin-by-trampling-i_1493801.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ed/jean-baptiste-rousseau-26610_feet_to-reign-by-opinion-begin-by-trampling-i_1493801.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ed/jean-baptiste-rousseau-26610_feet_to-reign-by-opinion-begin-by-trampling-i_1493801.png) > “To reign by opinion, begin by trampling it under your feet.” [Jean-Baptiste Rousseau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-baptiste-rousseau/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. To dominate, first undermine the prevailing view; challenge assumptions to gain power. **In simple terms:** Questioning norms grants authority. Key Takeaway Critically assess and reshape ideas. Themes power opinion challenge authority critical thinking Mood analytical provocative Type philosophical political When to use this quote - political campaigns - brand positioning - academic debates - social movements Key Concepts philosophy political theory social influence Questions to Reflect On - What risks arise when confronting dominant views? - How to balance critique with constructive dialogue? A Different Perspective Opposing opinions can provoke conflict. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Begin Trampling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/begin-trampling-5462599/) [Feet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feet/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Opinion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opinion/) [Opinion Begin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opinion-begin-5462601/) [Reign](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reign/) [Reign Opinion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reign-opinion-5462602/) [Trampling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trampling-1445995/) [Trampling Feet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trampling-feet-5462600/) ## Related quotes > [I don't like to go trampling on other people's sounds. That's really about it - I don't gravitate towards it, I try to move…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joey-santiago/i-don-t-like-to-go-trampling-on-other-people-s-sounds-that-s-really/) [Joey Santiago](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joey-santiago/) > [I wish you can see what you do to me... How you are trampling my heart. If you can only do what you say…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nickey-noeth/i-wish-you-can-see-what-you-do-to-me-how-you-are-trampling-my-heart/) [Nickey Noeth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nickey-noeth/) > [I feel like we as human beings are trampling all over the natural world, but at the same time, we are totally in its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-kent/i-feel-like-we-as-human-beings-are-trampling-all-over-the-natural/) [Julia Kent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-kent/) > [There are people in this servile world who will endure any trampling, and at the first beck rush delightedly to proffer their assistance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-jefferies/there-are-people-in-this-servile-world-who-will-endure-any-trampling/) [Richard Jefferies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-jefferies/) > [I don't think you can hold someone accountable for trampling someone else, because that person was probably pushed from behind. But if someone picks…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-seabrook/i-don-t-think-you-can-hold-someone-accountable-for-trampling-someone/) [John Seabrook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-seabrook/) > [Just trying to be different - when I hear something - I don't like to go trampling on other people's sounds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joey-santiago/just-trying-to-be-different-when-i-hear-something-i-don-t-like-to-go/) [Joey Santiago](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joey-santiago/) > [“There's a fine line between genius and insanity--and I enjoy trampling all over it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-angelis/there-s-a-fine-line-between-genius-and-insanity-and-i-enjoy-trampling/) [Nick Angelis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-angelis/) > [People should never be permitted to feel comfortable while trampling the rights of others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stan-van-gundy/people-should-never-be-permitted-to-feel-comfortable-while-trampling/) [Stan Van Gundy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stan-van-gundy/) > [...to tune the spirit when someone is trampling on you is called control](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-castaneda/to-tune-the-spirit-when-someone-is-trampling-on-you-is-called-control/) [Carlos Castaneda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-castaneda/) > [We first crush people to the earth, and then claim the right of trampling on them forever, because they are prostrate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/we-first-crush-people-to-the-earth-and-then-claim-the-right-of/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The idea of a bowed and terrified liberal minority during McCarthy's 'reign of terror' is poppycock. Then as now, all elite opinion was against…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-coulter/the-idea-of-a-bowed-and-terrified-liberal-minority-during-mccarthy-s/) [Ann Coulter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-coulter/) > [If Jesus is king in heaven then the Kingdom of God is in heaven. If Jesus is king, reign on earth then the Kingdom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-warren/if-jesus-is-king-in-heaven-then-the-kingdom-of-god-is-in-heaven-if/) [Rick Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-warren/) > [The only men who become Gods, even the Sons of God, are those who enter into polygamy. Others attain unto a glory and may…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brigham-young/the-only-men-who-become-gods-even-the-sons-of-god-are-those-who-enter/) [Brigham Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brigham-young/) > [...it was a huge creature, luminous, ghastly, and spectral. I have cross-examined these men, one of them a hard-headed countryman, one a farrier, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-conan-doyle/it-was-a-huge-creature-luminous-ghastly-and-spectral-i-have-cross/) [Arthur Conan Doyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-conan-doyle/) > [Mankind have been slow to believe that order reigns in the universe-that the world is a cosmos and a chaos.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-a-garfield/mankind-have-been-slow-to-believe-that-order-reigns-in-the-universe/) [James A. Garfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-a-garfield/) ## More by Jean-Baptiste Rousseau > [The Catholic must adopt the decision handed down to him; the Protestant must learn to decide for himself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-baptiste-rousseau/the-catholic-must-adopt-the-decision-handed-down-to-him-the/) [Jean-Baptiste Rousseau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-baptiste-rousseau/) > [The right of conquest has no foundation other than the right of the strongest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-baptiste-rousseau/the-right-of-conquest-has-no-foundation-other-than-the-right-of-the/) [Jean-Baptiste Rousseau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-baptiste-rousseau/) > [The vine that has been made to bear fruit in the spring, withers and dies before autumn.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-baptiste-rousseau/the-vine-that-has-been-made-to-bear-fruit-in-the-spring-withers-and/) [Jean-Baptiste Rousseau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-baptiste-rousseau/) > [They must know but little of mankind who can imagine that, after they have been once seduced by luxury, they can ever renounce it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-baptiste-rousseau/they-must-know-but-little-of-mankind-who-can-imagine-that-after-they/) [Jean-Baptiste Rousseau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-baptiste-rousseau/) > [Every artist loves applause. The praise of his contemporaries is the most valuable part of his recompense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-baptiste-rousseau/every-artist-loves-applause-the-praise-of-his-contemporaries-is-the/) [Jean-Baptiste Rousseau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-baptiste-rousseau/) > [Each State can have for enemies only other States, and not men; for between things disparate in nature there can be no real relation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-baptiste-rousseau/each-state-can-have-for-enemies-only-other-states-and-not-men-for/) [Jean-Baptiste Rousseau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-baptiste-rousseau/) > [Do we wish men to be virtuous? Then let us begin by making them love their country.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-baptiste-rousseau/do-we-wish-men-to-be-virtuous-then-let-us-begin-by-making-them-love/) [Jean-Baptiste Rousseau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-baptiste-rousseau/) > [If you have but a single ruler, you lie at the discretion of a master who has no reason to love you: and if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-baptiste-rousseau/if-you-have-but-a-single-ruler-you-lie-at-the-discretion-of-a-master/) [Jean-Baptiste Rousseau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-baptiste-rousseau/) > [It should be remembered that the foundation of the social contract is property; and its first condition, that every one should be maintained in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-baptiste-rousseau/it-should-be-remembered-that-the-foundation-of-the-social-contract-is/) [Jean-Baptiste Rousseau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-baptiste-rousseau/) > [The less reasonable a cult is, the more men seek to establish it by force.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-baptiste-rousseau/the-less-reasonable-a-cult-is-the-more-men-seek-to-establish-it-by/) [Jean-Baptiste Rousseau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-baptiste-rousseau/) > [The man who has lived the longest is not he who has spent the greatest number of years, but he who has had the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-baptiste-rousseau/the-man-who-has-lived-the-longest-is-not-he-who-has-spent-the/) [Jean-Baptiste Rousseau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-baptiste-rousseau/) > [Old men grasp more at life than babies, and leave it with a much worse grace than young people. It is because all their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-baptiste-rousseau/old-men-grasp-more-at-life-than-babies-and-leave-it-with-a-much-worse/) [Jean-Baptiste Rousseau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-baptiste-rousseau/) > [Who does not sufficiently hate vice, does not sufficiently love virtue.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-baptiste-rousseau/who-does-not-sufficiently-hate-vice-does-not-sufficiently-love-virtue/) [Jean-Baptiste Rousseau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-baptiste-rousseau/) > [Coercion created slavery, the cowardice of the slaves perpetuated it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-baptiste-rousseau/coercion-created-slavery-the-cowardice-of-the-slaves-perpetuated-it/) [Jean-Baptiste Rousseau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-baptiste-rousseau/) > [Youth is the time to study wisdom; old age is the time to practice it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-baptiste-rousseau/youth-is-the-time-to-study-wisdom-old-age-is-the-time-to-practice-it/) [Jean-Baptiste Rousseau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-baptiste-rousseau/) [Explore all 21 Jean-Baptiste Rousseau quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-baptiste-rousseau/) ## More Feet quotes > [The minute you step onstage, you get eight feet taller.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-cooper/the-minute-you-step-onstage-you-get-eight-feet-taller/) [Alice Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-cooper/) > [When you're scared - and I mean really scared, not just hearing a noise in the night, or standing toe to toe with someone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-gordon-smith/when-you-re-scared-and-i-mean-really-scared-not-just-hearing-a-noise/) [Alexander Gordon Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-gordon-smith/) > [I always step on the plane with my right foot and touch the outside of the plane with my left hand. Sometimes you know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hope-davis/i-always-step-on-the-plane-with-my-right-foot-and-touch-the-outside/) [Hope Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hope-davis/) > [The evening's the best part of the day. You've done your day's work. Now you can put your feet up and enjoy it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kazuo-ishiguro/the-evening-s-the-best-part-of-the-day-you-ve-done-your-day-s-work/) [Kazuo Ishiguro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kazuo-ishiguro/) > [We can't love a place or a person if we always have one foot out the door.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-weiner/we-can-t-love-a-place-or-a-person-if-we-always-have-one-foot-out-the/) [Eric Weiner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-weiner/) > [When I was 3, my parents strapped on a pair of Playskool plastic roller skates to my feet, and that's where the story begins.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-celski/when-i-was-3-my-parents-strapped-on-a-pair-of-playskool-plastic/) [J. R. Celski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-celski/) > [A man could be a lover and defender of the wilderness without ever in his lifetime leaving the boundaries of asphalt, powerlines, and right-angled…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-abbey/a-man-could-be-a-lover-and-defender-of-the-wilderness-without-ever-in/) [Edward Abbey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-abbey/) > [We never think that our mothers will die. It was like suddenly an abyss opened at my feet - I was standing on nothing.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-okri/we-never-think-that-our-mothers-will-die-it-was-like-suddenly-an/) [Ben Okri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-okri/) > [“Always wash you feet last.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/always-wash-you-feet-last/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [My husband really loves my feet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayesha-curry/my-husband-really-loves-my-feet/) [Ayesha Curry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayesha-curry/) > [Can you imagine any better example of divine creative accomplishment that the consummate flying machine that is a bird? 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