Appetites Quote by Jean-Jacques Rousseau
““The extreme inequalities in the manner of living of the several classes of mankind, the excess of idleness in some, and of labour in others, the facility of irritating and satisfying our sensuality and our appetites, the too exquisite and out of the way aliments of the rich, which fill them with fiery juices, and bring on indigestions, the unwholesome food of the poor, of which even, bad as it is, they very often fall short, and the want of which tempts them, every opportunity that offers, to eat greedily and overload their stomachs; watchings, excesses of every kind, immoderate transports of all the passions, fatigues, waste of spirits, in a word, the numberless pains and anxieties annexed to every condition, and which the mind of man is constantly a prey to; these are the fatal proofs that most of our ills are of our own making, and that we might have avoided them all by adhering to the simple, uniform and solitary way of life prescribed to us by nature.””
About This Quote
Source Book: Discourse on the Origin of Inequality, 1755
Rousseau argues that social and economic disparities stem from artificial lifestyles and excesses, deviating from natural simplicity.
In simple terms: Inequality and suffering arise from unnatural habits and luxury.
Key Takeaway
Return to simple, natural living to reduce suffering.
Themes
inequality
society
nature
excess
health
Mood
critical
thoughtful
analytical
Type
philosophical
social
When to use this quote
- urban planning
- public health policy
- educational curricula
- community gardening
Key Concepts
social contract
natural law
human nature
Questions to Reflect On
- What aspects of modern life are truly necessary?
- How can societies balance progress with simplicity?
A Different Perspective
Simplifying life may be unrealistic in modern complex societies.
