Jean-Jacques Rousseau · Complete work
Epistle Dedicatory: To the Republic of Geneva, 2
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Puisse durer toujours, pour le bonheur de ses citoyens et l’exemple des peuples, une république si sagement et si heureusement constituée! Voilà le seul vœu qui vous reste à faire, et le seul soin qui vous reste à prendre. C’est à vous seuls désormais, non à faire votre bonheur, vos ancêtres vous en ont évité la peine, mais à le rendre durable par la sagesse d’en bien user. C’est de votre union perpétuelle, de votre obéissance aux lois, de votre respect pour leurs ministres, que dépend votre conservation. S’il reste parmi vous le moindre germe d’aigreur ou de défiance, hâtez-vous de le détruire, comme un levain funeste d’où résulteraient tôt ou tard vos malheurs et la ruine de l’état. Je vous conjure de rentrer tous au fond de votre cœur, et de consulter la voix secrète de votre conscience. Quelqu’un parmi vous connaît-il dans l’univers un corps plus intègre, plus éclairé, plus respectable que celui de votre magistrature? Tous ses membres ne vous donnent-ils pas l’exemple de la modération, de la simplicité de mœurs, du respect pour les lois, et de la plus sincère réconciliation? Rendez donc sans réserve à de si sages chefs cette salutaire confiance que la raison doit à la vertu; songez qu’ils sont de votre choix, qu’ils le justifient, et que les honneurs dus à ceux que vous avez constitués en dignité retombent nécessairement sur vous-mêmes. Nul de vous n’est assez peu éclairé pour ignorer qu’où cessent la vigueur des lois et l’autorité de leurs défenseurs, il ne peut y avoir ni sûreté ni liberté pour personne. De quoi s’agit-il donc entre vous, que de faire de bon cœur et avec une juste confiance ce que vous seriez toujours obligés de faire par un véritable intérêt, par devoir et par raison? Qu’une coupable et funeste indifférence pour le maintient de la constitution ne vous fasse jamais négliger au besoin les sages avis des plus éclairés et des plus zélés d’entre vous; mais que l’équité, la modération, la plus respectueuse fermeté, continuent de régler toutes vos démarches, et de montrer en vous, à tout l’univers, l’exemple d’un peuple fier et modeste, aussi jaloux de sa gloire que de sa liberté. Gardez-vous surtout, et ce sera mon dernier conseil, d’écouter jamais des interprétations sinistres et des discours envenimés, dont les motifs secrets sont souvent plus dangereux que les actions qui en sont l’objet. Toute une maison s’éveille et se tient en alarmes aux premiers cris d’un bon et fidèle gardien qui n’aboie jamais qu’à l’approche des voleurs; mais on hait l’importunité de ces animaux bruyants qui troublent sans cesse le repos public, et dont les avertissements continuels et déplacés ne se font pas même écouter au moment qu’ils sont nécessaires.
Et vous magnifiques et très-honorés seigneurs, vous, dignes et respectables magistrats d’un peuple libre; permettez-moi de vous offrir en particulier mes hommages et mes devoirs. S’il y a dans le monde un rang propre à illustrer ceux qui l’occupent, c’est sans doute celui que donnent les talents et la vertu, celui dont vous vous êtes rendus dignes, et auquel vos concitoyens vous ont élevés. Leur propre mérite ajoute encore au vôtre un nouvel éclat; et, choisis par des hommes capables d’en gouverner d’autres pour les gouverner eux-mêmes, je vous trouve autant au-dessus des autres magistrats, qu’un peuple libre, et surtout celui que vous avez l’honneur de conduire, est, par ses lumières et par sa raison, au-dessus de la populace des autres états.
Qu’il me soit permis de citer un exemple dont il devrait rester de meilleures traces, et qui sera toujours présent à mon cœur. Je ne me rappelle point sans la plus douce émotion la mémoire du vertueux citoyen de qui j’ai reçu le jour, et qui souvent entretint mon enfance du respect qui vous était dû. Je le vois encore, vivant du travail de ses mains, et nourrissant son ame des vérités les plus sublimes. Je vois Tacite, Plutarque et Grotius, mêlés devant lui avec les instruments de son métier. Je vois à ses côtés un fils, chéri recevant avec trop peu de fruit les tendres instructions du meilleur des pères. Mais si les égarements d’une folle jeunesse me firent oublier durant un temps de si sages leçons, j’ai le bonheur d’éprouver enfin que, quelque penchant qu’on ait vers le vice, il est difficile qu’une éducation dont le cœur se mêle reste perdue pour toujours.
Tels sont, magnifiques et très-honorés seigneurs, les citoyens et même les simples habitants nés dans l’état que vous gouvernez; tels sont ces hommes instruits et sensés dont, sous le nom d’ouvriers et de peuple, on a chez les autres nations des idées si basses et si fausses. Mon père, je l’avoue avec joie, n’était point distingué parmi ses concitoyens, il n’était que ce qu’ils sont tous, et, tel qu’il était, il n’y a point de pays où sa société n’eût été recherchée, cultivée, et même avec fruit, par les plus honnêtes gens. Il ne m’appartient pas, et graces au ciel, il n’est pas nécessaire de vous parler des égards que peuvent attendre de vous des hommes de cette trempe, vos égaux par l’éducation ainsi que par les droits de la nature et de la naissance; vos inférieurs par leur volonté, par la préférence qu’ils devaient à votre mérite, qu’ils lui ont accordée, et pour laquelle vous leur devez à votre tour une sorte de reconnaissance. J’apprends avec une vive satisfaction de combien de douceur et de condescendance vous tempérez avec eux la gravité convenable aux ministres des lois; combien vous leur rendez en estime et en attentions ce qu’ils vous doivent d’obéissance et de respect; conduite pleine de justice et de sagesse, propre à éloigner de plus en plus la mémoire des événements malheureux qu’il faut oublier pour ne les revoir jamais; conduite d’autant plus judicieuse que ce peuple équitable et généreux se fait un plaisir de son devoir, qu’il aime naturellement à vous honorer, et que les plus ardents à soutenir leurs droits sont les plus portés à respecter les vôtres.
Il ne doit pas être étonnant que les chefs d’une société civile en aiment la gloire et le bonheur; mais il l’est trop pour le repos des hommes que ceux qui se regardent comme les magistrats, ou plutôt comme les maîtres d’une patrie plus sainte et plus sublime, témoignent quelque amour pour la patrie terrestre qui les nourrit. Qu’il m’est doux de pouvoir faire en notre faveur une exception si rare, et placer au rang de nos meilleurs citoyens ces zélés dépositaires des dogmes sacrés autorisés par les lois, ces vénérables pasteurs des ames, dont la vive et douce éloquence porte d’autant mieux dans les cœurs les maximes de l’Évangile, qu’ils commencent toujours par les pratiquer eux-mêmes! Tout le monde sait avec quel succès le grand art de la chaire est cultivé à Genève. Mais, trop accoutumés à voir dire d’une manière et faire d’une autre, peu de gens savent jusqu’à quel point l’esprit du christianisme, la sainteté des mœurs, la sévérité pour soi-même et la douceur pour autrui, règnent dans le corps de nos ministres. Peut-être appartient-il à la seule ville de Genève de montrer l’exemple édifiant d’une aussi parfaite union entre une société de théologiens et de gens de lettres; c’est en grande partie sur leur sagesse et leur modération reconnues, c’est sur leur zèle pour la prospérité de l’état que je fonde l’espoir de son éternelle tranquillité; et je remarque, avec un plaisir mêlé d’étonnement et de respect, combien ils ont d’horreur pour les affreuses maximes de ces hommes sacrés et barbares dont l’histoire fournit plus d’un exemple, et qui, pour soutenir les prétendus droits de Dieu, c’est-à-dire leurs intérêts, étaient d’autant moins avares du sang humain, qu’ils se flattaient que le leur serait toujours respecté.
Pourrais-je oublier cette précieuse moitié de la république qui fait le bonheur de l’autre, et dont la douceur et la sagesse y maintiennent la paix et les bonnes mœurs? Aimables et vertueuses citoyennes, le sort de votre sexe sera toujours de gouverner le nôtre. Heureux quand votre chaste pouvoir, exercé seulement dans l’union conjugale, ne se fait sentir que pour la gloire de l'état et le bonheur public! C’est ainsi que les femmes commandaient à Sparte, et c’est ainsi que vous méritez de commander à Genève. Quel homme barbare pourrait résister à la voix de l’honneur et de la raison dans la bouche d’une tendre épouse? et qui ne mépriserait un vain luxe, en voyant votre simple et modeste parure, qui, par l’éclat qu’elle tient de vous, semble être la plus favorable à la beauté? C’est à vous de maintenir toujours, par votre aimable et innocent empire, et par votre esprit insinuant, l’amour des lois dans l’état et la concorde parmi les citoyens; de réunir, par d’heureux mariages, les familles divisées, et surtout de corriger, par la persuasive douceur de vos leçons, et par les graces modestes de votre entretien, les travers que nos jeunes gens vont prendre en d’autres pays, d’où, au lieu de tant de choses utiles dont ils pourraient profiter, ils ne rapportent, avec un ton puéril et des airs ridicules pris parmi des femmes perdues, que de l’admiration de je ne sais quelles prétendues grandeurs, frivoles dédommagements de la servitude, qui ne vaudront jamais l’auguste liberté. Soyez donc toujours ce que vous êtes, les chastes gardiennes des mœurs et les doux liens de la paix; et continuez de faire valoir, en toute occasion, les droits du cœur et de la nature au profit du devoir et de la vertu.
Je me flatte de n’être point démenti par l’événement en fondant sur de tels garants l’espoir du bonheur commun des citoyens et de la gloire de la république. J’avoue qu’avec tous ces avantages elle ne brillera pas de cet éclat dont la plupart des yeux sont éblouis, et dont le puéril et funeste goût est le plus mortel ennemi du bonheur et de la liberté. Qu’une jeunesse dissolue aille chercher ailleurs des plaisirs faciles et de longs repentirs; que les prétendus gens de goût admirent en d’autres lieux la grandeur des palais, la beauté des équipages, les superbes ameublements, la pompe des spectacles, et tous les raffinements de la mollesse et du luxe: à Genève on ne trouvera que des hommes; mais pourtant un tel spectacle a bien son prix, et ceux qui le rechercheront vaudront bien les admirateurs du reste.
Daignez, magnifiques, très-honorés et souverains seigneurs, recevoir tous avec la même bonté les respectueux témoignages de l’intérêt que je prends à votre prospérité commune. Si j’étais assez malheureux pour être coupable de quelque transport indiscret dans cette vive effusion de mon cœur, je vous supplie de le pardonner à la tendre affection d’un vrai patriote, et au zèle ardent et légitime d’un homme qui n’envisage point de plus grand bonheur pour lui-même que celui de vous voir tous heureux.
Je suis avec le plus profond respect,
magnifiques, très-honorés et souverains seigneurs,
Votre très-humble et très-obéissant serviteur et concitoyen,
J. J. ROUSSEAU.
À Chambéry, le 12 juin 1754.
Musean translation
Mouseia’s complete machine-assisted Musean translation, made directly from the complete French text (dedicatory epistle, preface, both parts and the notes) for fidelity, the author’s force and cadence, and modern clarity.
May a republic so wisely and happily constituted endure forever, for the happiness of its citizens and the example of all peoples! That is the only wish left for you to make, the only care left for you to take. It is now for you alone not to create your happiness—your ancestors have spared you that labor—but to make it last through the wisdom of using it well. Your preservation depends on your perpetual unity, your obedience to the laws, and your respect for their ministers. If the least seed of bitterness or mistrust remains among you, hasten to destroy it as a deadly leaven from which your misfortunes and the ruin of the state would sooner or later arise. I entreat you all to look into the depths of your hearts and consult the secret voice of your conscience. Does anyone among you know of a body anywhere in the world more upright, more enlightened, more worthy of respect than your magistracy? Do not all its members set you an example of moderation, simple manners, respect for the laws, and the most sincere reconciliation? Give back without reserve, then, to such wise leaders the wholesome trust that reason owes to virtue. Remember that they are of your choosing, that they justify that choice, and that honors paid to those whom you have raised to dignity necessarily reflect upon yourselves. None of you is so unenlightened as not to know that where the vigor of the laws and the authority of their defenders cease, there can be neither safety nor freedom for anyone. What is at stake among you, then, except doing willingly and with rightful confidence what your true interest, duty, and reason would in any case oblige you to do? Never let a culpable and ruinous indifference to preserving the constitution make you neglect, when necessary, the wise counsel of those among you most enlightened and most devoted. But let equity, moderation, and the firmest respect continue to govern all your actions, and show the whole world in you the example of a people proud and modest, as jealous of its glory as of its liberty. Above all, beware—and this is my last counsel—of ever heeding sinister interpretations and venomous talk, whose hidden motives are often more dangerous than the actions they target. A whole household wakes and stands alarmed at the first cries of a good and faithful watchdog that barks only at the approach of thieves; but people hate the nuisance of noisy animals that endlessly disturb the public peace, whose incessant, misplaced warnings go unheeded even when a warning is needed.
And you, magnificent and most honored lords, worthy and respected magistrates of a free people: allow me to offer you in particular my homage and devotion. If there is a rank in the world that ennobles those who hold it, surely it is the rank conferred by talent and virtue, the rank you have made yourselves worthy of and to which your fellow citizens have raised you. Their own merit lends new luster to yours; and chosen to govern by men themselves capable of governing others, you stand, in my eyes, as far above other magistrates as a free people—above all the people you have the honor to lead—stands in enlightenment and reason above the masses of other states.
Allow me to cite an example of which better traces ought to remain, and which will always be present to my heart. I cannot recall without the sweetest emotion the virtuous citizen to whom I owe my life, who often spoke to me in childhood of the respect you were owed. I still see him earning his living with his hands and nourishing his soul with the most sublime truths. I see Tacitus, Plutarch, and Grotius mingled before him with the tools of his trade. I see at his side a beloved son receiving, with too little benefit, the tender instruction of the best of fathers. Yet though the wanderings of a foolish youth made me forget such wise lessons for a time, I am fortunate to learn at last that, however much one may incline toward vice, an education in which the heart has taken part is not easily lost forever.
Such, magnificent and most honored lords, are the citizens, and even the ordinary inhabitants, born in the state you govern; such are those instructed and sensible men of whom other nations, under the names of workmen and common people, entertain such low and false ideas. My father, I gladly confess, was not distinguished among his fellow citizens: he was only what they all are; yet such as he was, there is no country where the best people would not have sought and cultivated his company, and profited by it. It is not for me—and thanks to heaven, there is no need—to tell you what consideration men of this stamp may expect from you, your equals in education as well as by the rights of nature and birth, your inferiors by their own will, by the preference they owed to your merit and have given it, for which you in turn owe them a kind of gratitude. I learn with keen satisfaction how much gentleness and consideration you bring to your dealings with them to temper the gravity proper to ministers of the law; how much esteem and attention you return for the obedience and respect they owe you. Such conduct, full of justice and wisdom, is fitted to banish ever farther the memory of unhappy events that must be forgotten if they are never to be seen again; and it is all the more judicious because this fair-minded and generous people takes pleasure in its duty, naturally loves to honor you, and those most ardent in defending their rights are most disposed to respect yours.
It is no wonder that the leaders of a civil society love its glory and happiness; it is far too rare, for the peace of humankind, that those who regard themselves as magistrates—or rather as masters—of a holier and more sublime homeland show any love for the earthly homeland that sustains them. How sweet it is for me to make so rare an exception on our behalf, and to count among our best citizens these zealous guardians of sacred doctrines sanctioned by the laws, these venerable shepherds of souls whose ardent and gentle eloquence carries the maxims of the Gospel into hearts all the more effectively because they always begin by practicing them themselves! Everyone knows how successfully the great art of preaching is cultivated in Geneva. Yet, too accustomed to seeing people say one thing and do another, few know how thoroughly the spirit of Christianity, holiness of conduct, rigor toward oneself, and gentleness toward others prevail among our ministers. Perhaps Geneva alone can present the edifying example of so perfect a union between a society of theologians and men of letters. It is largely upon their acknowledged wisdom and moderation, and upon their zeal for the prosperity of the state, that I found my hope for its eternal tranquility; and I note, with pleasure mingled with wonder and respect, how they abhor the dreadful maxims of those holy and barbarous men of whom history offers more than one example, who, in defending the supposed rights of God—that is, their own interests—were all the freer with human blood because they flattered themselves that their own would always be respected.
Could I forget that precious half of the republic which makes the other half happy, and whose gentleness and wisdom preserve its peace and good morals? Amiable and virtuous women citizens, the destiny of your sex will always be to govern ours. Happy are we when your chaste power, exercised only within marriage, makes itself felt solely for the glory of the state and the public happiness! Thus women held sway in Sparta, and thus you deserve to hold sway in Geneva. What barbarous man could resist the voice of honor and reason on the lips of a tender wife? And who would not scorn empty luxury at the sight of your simple, modest dress, which, borrowing its radiance from you, seems the most becoming adornment of beauty? It is for you, by your gracious and innocent influence and your tactful intelligence, always to maintain love of the laws within the state and concord among its citizens; to reunite divided families through happy marriages; and above all, by the persuasive gentleness of your instruction and the modest grace of your conversation, to correct the affectations our young men pick up in other countries. Instead of the many useful things they might have learned there, they bring back from women of dissolute life a childish tone, ridiculous airs, and admiration for certain pretended forms of grandeur—frivolous compensations for servitude that will never equal august liberty. Remain, then, what you are: chaste guardians of morals and gentle bonds of peace; and continue, on every occasion, to uphold the rights of the heart and of nature in the service of duty and virtue.
I trust that events will not prove me wrong in grounding my hope for the citizens' common happiness and the republic's glory on such pledges. I admit that with all these advantages it will not glitter with that brilliance which dazzles most eyes and whose childish and ruinous allure is the deadliest enemy of happiness and liberty. Let dissolute youth seek easy pleasures and long regrets elsewhere; let those who profess good taste admire elsewhere the grandeur of palaces, the beauty of carriages, sumptuous furnishings, the splendor of entertainments, and every refinement of softness and luxury. In Geneva one will find only men; yet that sight, too, has its worth, and those who seek it will be worth as much as the admirers of all the rest.
Deign, magnificent, most honored, and sovereign lords, to receive with equal kindness these respectful tokens of the interest I take in your common prosperity. If I have been unfortunate enough to give way to some indiscreet impulse in this ardent outpouring of my heart, I beg you to forgive it for the tender affection of a true patriot and the ardent, rightful zeal of a man who can imagine no greater happiness for himself than to see you all happy.
I remain with the deepest respect,
magnificent, most honored, and sovereign lords,
Your most humble and most obedient servant and fellow citizen,
J. J. ROUSSEAU.
At Chambéry, June 12, 1754.
Plain English translation
Mouseia’s complete Plain English edition, made independently and directly from the complete French text (dedicatory epistle, preface, both parts and the notes).
May a republic organized so wisely and successfully endure forever, for the happiness of its citizens and as an example to other peoples! That is the only wish you have left to make, and preserving it is the only task left to you. You no longer need to create your own happiness; your ancestors spared you that work. You need only use it wisely to make it last. Your survival depends on lasting unity, obedience to the laws, and respect for those who administer them. If the slightest trace of bitterness or distrust remains among you, hurry to destroy it. It is a deadly seed from which your misfortunes and the ruin of the state would sooner or later grow. I beg each of you to look deep into your heart and listen to the quiet voice of your conscience. Does anyone among you know a group of magistrates anywhere in the world more upright, more knowledgeable, or more worthy of respect than yours? Do not all its members set you an example of moderation, simple habits, respect for the laws, and the most sincere reconciliation? Give such wise leaders without reservation the healthy trust that reason owes to virtue. Remember that you chose them, that they have justified your choice, and that the honors paid to the people you have raised to office necessarily reflect on you. All of you know that where the laws lose their force and their defenders lose their authority, nobody can have either safety or freedom. So what is at issue among you, except doing willingly and with proper trust what your real interest, your duty, and reason would oblige you to do anyway? Never let a blameworthy and destructive indifference to maintaining the constitution make you ignore, when you need them, the wise advice of your most enlightened and devoted citizens. Let fairness, moderation, and the firmest respect continue to guide all your actions. Show the whole world a people who are proud yet modest, and as protective of their honor as of their freedom. Above all, and this is my last piece of advice, beware of listening to sinister interpretations and poisonous talk. The hidden motives behind such talk are often more dangerous than the actions it discusses. At the first cries of a good, faithful watchdog that barks only when thieves approach, a whole house wakes up and becomes alert. But people hate the nuisance of noisy animals that constantly disturb public peace. Their repeated, ill-timed warnings go unheard even when a warning is needed.
And you, magnificent and highly honored lords, worthy and respected magistrates of a free people: allow me to offer you my homage and respect in particular. If there is a position in the world that brings distinction to its holders, it must be one earned by talent and virtue. You have made yourselves worthy of such a position, and your fellow citizens have raised you to it. Their own merit adds new brilliance to yours. You have been chosen to govern by people capable of governing others themselves. I find you as far above other magistrates as a free people, and especially the people you have the honor to lead, stand above the crowds in other states in knowledge and judgment.
Let me give an example of which a better record should remain, and which will always stay in my heart. I cannot recall without the deepest affection the virtuous citizen who gave me life and often spoke to me in childhood about the respect owed to you. I still see him earning his living with his hands while nourishing his mind with the highest truths. I see Tacitus, Plutarch, and Grotius among the tools of his trade. Beside him I see a beloved son, gaining far too little from the tender teaching of the best of fathers. The errors of a reckless youth made me forget those wise lessons for a time. But I am happy to learn at last that, however strong a person's inclination toward vice, an education that reaches the heart is unlikely to be lost forever.
Such, magnificent and highly honored lords, are the citizens and even the ordinary residents born in the state you govern. Such are the informed, sensible people whom other nations think of so poorly and so falsely under the names of workers and common people. I gladly admit that my father was not distinguished among his fellow citizens. He was simply what they all are. Yet there is no country in which decent people would not have sought and valued his company, and benefited from it too. It is not for me to tell you, and thank heaven it is not necessary to tell you, how people of this kind can expect to be treated by you. They are your equals in education, and in the rights that come from nature and birth. They are your inferiors by their own choice, through the preference they owed to your merit and gave it. In return, you owe them a kind of gratitude. It gives me great pleasure to learn how much kindness and consideration you use to soften toward them the seriousness fitting for ministers of the laws. You return in esteem and attention what they owe you in obedience and respect. This is a just and wise practice, well suited to putting further out of mind the memory of unhappy events that must be forgotten if they are never to return. It is all the wiser because these fair and generous people take pleasure in doing their duty. They naturally like to honor you, and those most eager to defend their own rights are the most ready to respect yours.
It is no surprise that the leaders of a civil society should care about its honor and happiness. What is all too surprising, given how much human peace depends on it, is that those who consider themselves the magistrates—or rather the masters—of a holier and higher homeland should show any love for the earthly homeland that sustains them. How pleasant it is for me to make such a rare exception in our favor, and to count among our best citizens these devoted guardians of sacred teachings recognized by the laws! These respected pastors of souls make the teachings of the Gospel reach people's hearts all the better through their warm, gentle eloquence, because they always practice those teachings first. Everyone knows how successfully the great art of preaching is practiced in Geneva. But people are so used to hearing one thing said and seeing another done that few know how fully the spirit of Christianity, moral purity, strictness toward oneself, and gentleness toward others prevail among our ministers. Perhaps only the city of Geneva can offer the uplifting example of such a perfect union between theologians and men of letters. I base my hope for the state's lasting peace largely on their recognized wisdom and moderation and their devotion to its prosperity. And I note with pleasure, mixed with surprise and respect, how much they hate the dreadful principles of those supposedly holy yet brutal men, of whom history gives more than one example. To defend the supposed rights of God—that is, their own interests—such men were all the readier to spill human blood because they flattered themselves that their own blood would always be spared.
Could I forget the precious half of the republic that makes the other half happy and whose gentleness and wisdom maintain peace and good morals there? Beloved and virtuous women citizens, your sex will always govern ours. How fortunate when your modest power, exercised only within marriage, is felt only for the honor of the state and the public good! That is how women ruled in Sparta, and how you deserve to rule in Geneva. What barbarous man could resist the voice of honor and reason coming from a loving wife? And who would not scorn useless luxury on seeing your simple, modest dress, which gains its beauty from you and seems to show beauty to its best advantage? It is your task to keep alive the love of the laws in the state and harmony among the citizens, through your welcome, harmless influence and your tact. Bring divided families together through happy marriages. Above all, correct, through the gentle persuasion of your advice and the modest grace of your conversation, the faults our young men pick up in other countries. Instead of bringing back the many useful things they could learn there, they return with a childish tone and ridiculous manners acquired among disreputable women, and with admiration for some supposed kinds of greatness. These are trivial consolations for servitude, never worth the dignity of freedom. So always remain what you are: the honorable guardians of morals and the gentle bonds of peace. Keep using every opportunity to put the claims of the heart and of nature in the service of duty and virtue.
I trust that events will prove me right to base my hope for the citizens' shared happiness and the republic's glory on such reliable people. I admit that, with all these advantages, the republic will not shine with the splendor that dazzles most eyes. A childish and ruinous taste for that splendor is the deadliest enemy of happiness and freedom. Let undisciplined young people look elsewhere for easy pleasures and long regrets. Let those who claim to have refined taste admire, in other places, great palaces, beautiful carriages, splendid furniture, lavish shows, and every refinement of comfort and luxury. In Geneva they will find only human beings. Yet such a sight has its own worth, and those who seek it will be at least as worthy as the admirers of everything else.
Please, magnificent, highly honored, and sovereign lords, receive with equal kindness these respectful signs of how much I care about your shared prosperity. If in this heartfelt outpouring I have unfortunately said anything too boldly, I beg you to forgive the tender affection of a true patriot and the passionate, rightful devotion of a man who can imagine no greater happiness for himself than seeing all of you happy.
I remain with the deepest respect,
magnificent, highly honored, and sovereign lords,
Your very humble and very obedient servant and fellow citizen,
J. J. ROUSSEAU.
At Chambéry, 12 June 1754.