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Everything is good as it comes from the hands of the Maker of the world, but degenerates once it gets into the hands of man
Jean-Jacques Rousseau
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Interpretation

What this quote means

Things are inherently good when created, but can become corrupted by human actions.

Rousseau's quote suggests that the essence of creation is pure and good, as it originates from a higher power. However, the involvement of humans introduces flaws and corruption, leading to a degradation of that initial goodness. This reflects a common theme in philosophical discussions about the nature of humanity and the impact of societal structures on the inherent goodness of things.

Themes

GoodnessCorruptionHuman NatureCreationPhilosophy

In practice

Example use cases

A speaker discussing the impact of societal norms on creativity could use this quote to illustrate their point.

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