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Full Idea
The first person who, having enclosed a plot of land, took it into his head to say 'this is mine' and found people simple enough to believe him, was the true founder of civil society.
Gist of Idea
Persuading other people that some land was 'owned' was the beginning of society
Source
Jean-Jacques Rousseau (Discourse on the Origin of Inequality [1754], Part II)
Book Ref
Rousseau,Jean-Jacques: 'The Basic Political Writings', ed/tr. Cress,Donald A. [Hackett 1987], p.60
A Reaction
A wonderful riposte to Locke, who thought political legitimacy was based on property! Locke is way too simplistic about whether someone has a true right to their property. Highy dubious claims become ossified after a generation or two.