Rousseau's Confessions

Author: Zhang Xiuzhang
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2003-03-01
Features: It is the people who constitute humanity, so those who do not belong to the people have no value and are not worth counting. All levels of people are the same. If this is acknowledged, then the level with the most people is the one we should respect most. In the presence of the wise and fearful, all social status differences cease to exist: They believe that the desires of small and great figures are the same, with the only difference being their language and the extent of their outward appearances. If there truly were significant differences between them, it would lie in the particularly hypocritical nature of those who put on airs. The people are consistent in their inner and outer selves, so they are not liked. The upper class must wear a false mask; otherwise, if they were to reveal their true faces as they are, people would be terrified.