Jean-Jacques Rousseau Quotes

It is right that what is just should be obeyed; it is necessary that what is strongest should be obeyed. Justice without might is helpless; might without justice is tyrannical.

You may have the might, but that does not necessarily make you right.

Justice is the first virtue of those who command, and stops the complaints of those who obey.

Force cannot change right.

There is no real force without justice.

But the relationship of morality and power is a very subtle one. Because ultimately power without morality is no longer power.

In order to be respected, authority has got to be respectable.

Justice without force is powerless; force without justice is tyrannical.

Might was the measure of right.

Only he deserves power who every day justifies it.

Where there's no might there's no right.

All political questions, all matters of right, are at bottom only questions of might.

In matters of government, justice means force as well as virtue.

Might and right govern everything in this world; might till right is ready.

Virtue without terror is powerlessness.

Might is a fine thing, and useful for many purposes; for "one goes further with a handful of might than with a bagful of right."

Force and right are the governors of this world; force till right is ready.

The great must submit to the dominion of prudence and of virtue, or none will long submit to the dominion of the great.

Don't be deceived. There is no justice but strength.

… the great vitality and durability of institutions which place right on the side of might

Between the people and their enemies there can be nothing in common but the sword; we must govern by iron those who cannot be governed by justice; we must oppress the tyrant...

Lead the people by reason and the people's enemies by terror.

The most basic building block of any successful government is, first and foremost, a moral authority over the people it leads.

We are defined by how we use our power.

As men could not make might obey right, they have made right obey might.