"There is no subjugation so perfect
as that which keeps the appearance of freedom
for in that way one captures volition itself."
by:
Jean-Jacques Rousseau
(1712-1778) Political philosopher, educationist and essayist
Source:
Emile, 1762
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Reader comments about this quote:
We don't even have the appearance of freedom anymore...not if you've been paying attention that is...
 -- J Carlton, Calgary     
  • 5
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    To keep an appearance of freedom in a pit of despotism (as is now the norm in the statist theocracy infesting this land), one must change the meaning of freedom. A perfect subjugation would be to enforce: compelled compliance, license, victimless crimes, larceny with immunity (income tax, funny money, property tax, a tax on life itself - Obamacare, etc.), a carnal despots ability to give and take away rights and socialism's varying faces all while calling it freedom, captures helots', serfs' and otherwise slaves' volition.
     -- Mike, Norwalk     
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    It's hard to improve on the comments of J Carlton and Mike. They pretty well summed it up.
     -- jim k, Austin, Tx     
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    This Rousseau quote is one of the best of all time. Wow. I wonder if the government removing of choices is the best example of "keeping the appearance of freedom"? If not, can someone come up with an example of "keeping the appearance of freedom" ? --Walt
     -- Walter Clark, Fullerton CA     
  • 2
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    Helmut Schmoke wrote a long book on ENVY and published it in the 1960's. The means by which a state absorbs the freedoms of the electorate is the appeal to envy which everyone carries with them, some to a greater degree than others. Obama has spent 6 years pounding on the ploy of envy. The key in envy, as it turns out, is that those who envy don't want what the others have but rather want the others (the millionaires and billionaires) to have as little as they have. Socialism gets that goal much closer and of course, Communism was the best at making certain that nearly no one had any reason to envy anyone else. Rousseau said it better.
     -- Gary Mullennix, Naples, FL     
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    Exactly right Gary, I think it was Churchill who said Socialism is the equal sharing of misery.
     -- J Carlton, Calgary     
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    Perfect!
     -- Robert, Somewhere in Europe     
  • 1
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    I agree that "those who envy don't want what the others have but rather want the others (the millionaires and billionaires) to have as little as they have."  Just look at the race riots being promoted in leftist cities.  "Burn it all down" is their credo.
     -- E Archer, NYC     
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    Know the truth, and the truth will set you free.
     -- E Archer, NYC     
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    The appearance of freedom will remain in place until man can overcome all of his vices. An express contract by the people defends us against absolute tyranny. 
     -- Don Lee, Reno     
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    Realization that freedom is simple illusion is the first step toward reality. The obsession with freedom appears a childish preoccupation, but the search for reality, now that's growth. 
     -- Fredrick William Sillik, Anytown     
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