The Social Contract (tr. G. D. H. Cole, 1913)

Their wordsMan is born free; and everywhere he is in chains.

Their wordsThe strongest is never strong enough to be always the master, unless he transforms strength into right, and obedience into duty.

Their wordsTo renounce liberty is to renounce being a man, to surrender the rights of humanity and even its duties.

Their wordsIn order then that the social compact may not be an empty formula, it tacitly includes the undertaking, which alone can give force to the rest, that whoever refuses to obey the general will shall be compelled to do so by the whole body. This means nothing less than that he will be forced to be free; for this is the condition which, by giving each citizen to his country, secures him against all personal dependence.

Their wordsIt follows from what has gone before that the general will is always right and tends to the public advantage; but it does not follow that the deliberations of the people are always equally correct.

Their wordsWere there a people of gods, their government would be democratic. So perfect a government is not for men.

Their wordsSovereignty, for the same reason as makes it inalienable, cannot be represented; it lies essentially in the general will, and will does not admit of representation: it is either the same, or other; there is no intermediate possibility. The deputies of the people, therefore, are not and cannot be its representatives: they are merely its stewards, and can carry through no definitive acts. Every law the people has not ratified in person is null and void—is, in fact, not a law.

Their wordsThe people of England regards itself as free; but it is grossly mistaken; it is free only during the election of members of parliament. As soon as they are elected, slavery overtakes it, and it is nothing.