"Every man has a right to risk his own life for the preservation of it"
- Jean-Jacques Rousseau
About this Quote
This quote by Jean-Jacques Rousseau speaks with the concept of self-preservation. Rousseau is suggesting that every person has the right to take risks in order to safeguard their own life. This might imply taking dangers to secure one's physical safety, such as withstanding a bully or running away from a hazardous circumstance. It could also suggest taking risks to secure one's psychological and emotional wellbeing, such as speaking out against oppression or standing up for what one believes in. Eventually, Rousseau is recommending that every person can take threats in order to protect their own life, which this is an essential right that should be respected.
"Life is life - whether in a cat, or dog or man. There is no difference there between a cat or a man. The idea of difference is a human conception for man's own advantage"