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An intelligent being, is the active principle of all things. One must have renounced all common sense to doubt it, and it is a waste of time to try to prove such self evident truth.
Jean-Jacques Rousseau
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Interpretation

What this quote means

The quote emphasizes the foundational role of intelligence in understanding existence and criticizes the futility of questioning obvious truths.

Jean-Jacques Rousseau asserts that intelligence is the driving force behind all creations and realities. He believes that doubting this fundamental principle reflects a denial of common sense, and therefore, any attempt to validate such an obvious truth is a futile exercise. This highlights the importance of recognizing and acknowledging the inherent role of reason and intelligence in our lives.

Themes

IntelligenceTruthCommon SensePhilosophyExistence

In practice

Example use cases

In a debate about the role of reason in society, one could introduce this quote to emphasize the importance of intelligence.

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Quote by Jean-Jacques Rousseau | QuoteProject