Book 1

God makes all things good, man meddles with them and they become evil…Yet things would
be worse without this education.
The first book of Émile describes the period from birth to learning to speak.
The most important thing for the healthy and natural development of children at this age is
that they learn to use their physical powers, especially the sense organs.
Infants and toddlers are already learning and shouldn’t be swaddled, cooped up indoors, or
overly protected but instead allowed to explore the world.
The teacher must pay special attention to distinguishing between the real needs of children
and their whims and fancies.
Nature, says Rousseau, is the best teacher, and it’s never too soon for a child to begin
learning from it.

A child who passes through many hands in turn, can never be well brought up. At every
change he makes a secret comparison, which continually tends to lessen his respect for those
who control him, and with it their authority over him. If once he thinks there are grown-up
people with no more sense than children the authority of age is destroyed and his education is
ruined. P.90

The only moral lesson which is suited for a child—the most important lesson for every time
of life—is this : ‘Never hurt anybody.
The only moral lesson suited for childhood and the most important at any age is, never to
injure anyone. P.99

Once you teach people to say what they do not understand, it is easy enough to get them to
say anything you like. P.106