title: Discourse on the Origin of Inequality (The World's Classics)
author:  Jean-Jacques Rousseau 
description: Text: English (translation)<br /> Original Language: French
zlib_text: ![](images/00001.jpg)
  
  
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  Discourse on Inequality
  
  
    
    
  DEDICATION TO THE REPUBLIC OF GENEVA  
    
  PREFACE  
    
  A DISSERTATION ON THE ORIGIN AND FOUNDATION OF THE INEQUALITY OF MANKIND  
    
  Part I  
    
  Part II
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
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  # Discourse on Inequality
  
  
  ### Jean Jacques Rousseau
  
  
  ##### Translated by G. D. H. Cole
  
  
  
  
  
  A DISCOURSE
  
  
  
  
  
  ON A SUBJECT PROPOSED BY THE ACADEMY OF DIJON:
  
  
  
  
  
  WHAT IS THE ORIGIN OF INEQUALITY AMONG MEN,
  
  
  AND IS IT AUTHORISED BY NATURAL LAW?
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  We should consider what is natural not in things
  
  
  depraved but in those which are rightly ordered
  
  
  according to nature. Aristotle, Politics, Bk. i, ch. 5
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  ### DEDICATION TO THE REPUBLIC OF GENEVA
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  MOST HONOURABLE, MAGNIFICENT AND SOVEREIGN LORDS, convinced that only a
  
  
  virtuous citizen can confer on his country honours which it can accept,
  
  
  I have been for thirty years past working to make myself worthy to off