What is meant by "Man is born free yet we see him everywhere in chains mean?

Answer 1

This is from Rousseau. It is the first line from the first chapter of his book, 'The Social Contract', in which he attempts to lay out his views of governments and what makes them good or bad. It helps to include the next few sentances, I think:

"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."

To Rousseau, everyone was born independant and with unlimited opportunities. But also with unlimited risks. This, he thinks, is why people form societies... each person surrenders some freedom willingly in exchange for the greater safety provided, at least from their fellow-man, if not from nature.

Here is where many governments take a left turn. Presumably a government enforces the will of the people... but many do not. What is the difference between a bully forcing you to do something and a society forcing you to do something? Arguably very little. If you have no say in the rules, then you are just a victim of them. A slave. You are bound by codes and conventions whether you like them or not.

The only good government, therefore, was an almost purely democratic one. One where the people made the laws and everyone had some influence, even against the tyranny of the majority.

This also is the answer to the conundrum Rousseau poses in his inttroduction: A master is a greater slave then the slaves he owns because the slaves are free to act in any manner that they can get away with, up to and including killing their master. The master, on the other hand, must create and enforce a social bond or be destroyed.

And so, perhaps, it is with every man. We are born with limitless potential, yet, willingly or otherwise, we are shackled by the rules that are placed upon us to ensure the safety of other people. Hope that helps!

Answer 2

Hes born free but is chained down by society

Answer 3

That was said by Jean Jacques Rousseau, I believe.

The other replies are right. The "chains" represent society- rules, regulations and class distinctions. When Rousseau wrote this (the 1770s, I believe), the French Revolution had not occurred. Many in 18th and 19th century French society- especially those who were not in the upper classes were tied down by class. No chance for social mobility and tied by taxes and the burden of work .

Answer 4

Man will always have to follow a set standard of rules and regulations of society. Consequently, when one goes against this quote and breaks free of the chains, then a sub-culture is created.

Answer 5

Man is born in chains. But sometimes we see him free.

Answer 6

It means that even in America, where you are free, you still have limitations. Like at school you have a dress code, or you can't go to the school dance if you a lower than C average or three detentions. The fact that you can get detentions. Or how you have laws and rules you have to obey. Those are all things that don't make you free.

Answer 7

It is a metaphor, a visual expression of a mental state.
Human mind (notice, not brain), or human`s psyche, is mainly unconsciouss one, you realise and are aware of a quiet very small part of the mechanisms and reasons behind everything related to your emotional life - mood changes, reactions, affections, complexes, behaviour etc.

So, to put it short, I`ll give some examples.
It is common for people to say "I am what I am, what can I do about it...oh, it`s just me, I`m like that (shy, agressive, stupid etc)"
and that`s it. They don`t make the effort to be what ever they want to be, if you are not feeling comfortable with your shiness, overcome it, examine yourself. Search for the deeper reason behind it, dive into the most sensitive layers of your psyche.
It is hard to say to be honest with yourself, but when you learn to be, you start knowing yourself.
You can be everything you want, there is nothing beyond your reach... but a reach not an easy one. It requieres effort, persistence, will and honesty.
Here is one fundamental everyday excercise for you "Ask constantly questions to yourself, about yourself (why I reacted like this? Why am I feeling like this? Why that made me feel like this, what is the reason? and why? When you reach an answer, don`t stop, continue further.. reach deeper.)

This saying, a Zen saying may be?
Means just that - people are physically free to do what ever they want (as long as they don`t interfere with the same right of others), but they are imposing those mental barriers to themselves and the ironic part is, that they even do it without realising it.
There is a whole Universe in yourself, explore it!
Read Carl Gustav Jung`s works. He says a lot about this process of knowing yourself.

Answer 8

To be free means to be able to live your life without any restrictions, to live by your own rules. Yet in every society, even the most civilized democracies, we have restrictions, some imposed by law, some by societal conventions, some imposed by religion or moral codes, the list goes on.

For example, I may very well want to pluck some fruit from my neighbor's tree, but doing so would entail trespassing and theft.

I might want to come to work in my jeans and a T-shirt, but my boss won't allow it.

I might want to ask the new girl out on a date, but my friends made chide me to the point that I won't do it, because she's black, or Jewish, or fat.

I might want to dance in a club but I'm too uncomfortable with what I believe to be limited dance skills.

Answer 9

It's America! The Land of the Free! And yet everywhere you turn there are things you can't do! We have freedom of speach, yet you can't say that. It's a place for people to feel safe, yet the security is tighter than ever. It's a world of hope, yet people who want in are being turned down. They say it's the Land of the Free, yet we aren't actually free.

Answer 10

If a man is born free, then something must be done to him to put him in chains. If he lives in a free society, then he must be putting the chains on himself.