Absolute power Quote by Jean-Jacques Rousseau
“Ought to have a universal compulsory force to move and arrange each part in the manner best suited to the whole. Just as nature gives each man an absolute power over all his members, the social compact gives the body politic an absolute power over all its members." "We grant that each person alienates, by the social compact, only that portion of his power, his goods, and liberty whose use is of consequence to the community; but we must also grant that only the sovereign is the judge of what is of consequence.”
About This Quote
Source Treat: The Social Contract, 1762
Society should organize individuals so the whole functions best, granting limited power to each while the sovereign decides what matters.
In simple terms: Society balances individual power for the common good.
Key Takeaway
Support fair social structures.
Themes
politics
society
authority
Mood
critical
thoughtful
Type
philosophical
political
When to use this quote
- government policy
- community projects
- lawmaking
Key Concepts
social contract theory
collective welfare
Questions to Reflect On
- What powers should individuals retain?
- Who should decide societal priorities?
A Different Perspective
Balancing individual liberty with collective needs is complex.
![“As Israel made the wants of his national existence the law of the world, as under the dominance of these wants he deified even his political vindictiveness; so the Christian made the requirements of human feeling the absolute powers and laws of the world. [T]hat is, indeed, only of man considered…” quote by Ludwig Feuerbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/dd1/ludwig-feuerbach-3406_abrahamism_as-israel-made-the-wants-of-his-national_31284.jpg)
