“Man is borne free but everywhere he is in chains” what does this mean?

This is a quotation from Jean Jacques Rousseau’s ‘The Social Contract’. To understand it, it has to be read in that context. Essentially, Rousseau was asking himself the following:

“Man is born free; and everywhere he is in chains. One thinks himself the master of others, and still remains a greater slave than they. How did this change come about? I do not know. What can make it legitimate? That question I think I can answer”.

And then proceeds to give his answer.

Essentially what he is observing is that while humans are born free (without any form of restriction) we choose (even when not forced) to place restrictions (chains) on ourselves by consenting to a form of social contract with other humans. That is to say that we (well most of us anyway) choose to be part of society and thereby have our freedoms restricted rather than choose isolation and absolute freedom. He then proceeds not to explain how we got to that point, but rather why it is legitimate to be there.

If you’re interested in that era and the thinking that was going on at the time then the link below will be rewarding.

It just means no one is absolutely free.

I think..

Man wishes to do what he knows he should not do. And doesn’t do what he knows he should. He can’t escape those desires and bindings.

the guy just got married….