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To renounce liberty is to renounce being a man, to surrender the rights of humanity and even its duties. For he who renounces everything no indemnity is possible. Such a renunciation is incompatible with man's nature; to remove all liberty from his will is to remove all morality from his acts.
Jean-Jacques Rousseau
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Interpretation

What this quote means

Renouncing liberty is denying one's humanity and morality.

In this quote, Rousseau emphasizes the intrinsic link between liberty and humanity, suggesting that to give up one's freedom is to forsake one's very essence as a human being. He argues that true morality stems from the exercise of free will, and that without liberty, individuals lose their moral compass, making a complete renunciation of freedom incompatible with human nature and existence.

Themes

LibertyHumanityMoralityFreedomNature

In practice

Example use cases

This quote can be used in a discussion about civil rights and individual freedoms during a debate.

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Quote by Jean-Jacques Rousseau | QuoteProject