“ The opinions of a people are derived from its constitution; although the law does not regulate morality, it is legislation that gives it birth. ”
Jean-Jacques Rousseau, The Social Contract (1762). copy citation
Author | Jean-Jacques Rousseau |
---|---|
Source | The Social Contract |
Topic | morality birth |
Date | 1762 |
Language | English |
Reference | Of the Social Contract, or Principles of Political Law, Book IV |
Note | Translated by George Douglas Howard Cole |
Weblink | https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/The_Social_Contract/Book_IV |
Context
“Men always love what is good or what they find good; it is in judging what is good that they go wrong. This judgment, therefore, is what must be regulated. He who judges of morality judges of honour; and he who judges of honour finds his law in opinion.
The opinions of a people are derived from its constitution; although the law does not regulate morality, it is legislation that gives it birth. When legislation grows weak, morality degenerates; but in such cases the judgment of the censors will not do what the force of the laws has failed to effect.
From this it follows that the censorship may be useful for the preservation of morality, but can never be so for its restoration.” source
The opinions of a people are derived from its constitution; although the law does not regulate morality, it is legislation that gives it birth. When legislation grows weak, morality degenerates; but in such cases the judgment of the censors will not do what the force of the laws has failed to effect.
From this it follows that the censorship may be useful for the preservation of morality, but can never be so for its restoration.” source