Full Idea
Everything is rooted in politics, and whatever might be attempted, no people would ever be other than the nature of their government made them.
Gist of Idea
The nature of people is decided by the government and politics of their society
Source
Jean-Jacques Rousseau (The Confessions [1770], 9-1756)
Book Reference
Rousseau,Jean-Jacques: 'The Confessions', ed/tr. Cohen,J.M. [Penguin 1953], p.377
A Reaction
A striking anticipation of one of Marx's most important ideas - that society is not created by individual minds, because the nature of consciousness is created by society. The central idea in the subject of sociology, I think.
Related Idea
Idea 5281 Consciousness is a social product [Marx/Engels]