This quote argues that genuine happiness for people depends entirely on knowledge, freedom, and logical thinking. It suggests that without these fundamental elements, individuals cannot achieve true contentment or well-being, highlighting their crucial role in human flourishing.
Quote by Marquis de Condorcet: “Enlightenment, liberty, and reason are the sole foundations of human happiness.”
Enlightenment, liberty, and reason are the sole foundations of human happiness.
Insight
Historical Context
Condorcet's ultimate goal was to demonstrate how the continuous progress of human reason would lead to a society founded on justice, equality, and individual freedom, which he believed were the necessary conditions for universal human happiness.
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French mathematician, philosopher, and political scientist who was a leading figure of the late Enlightenment. His Sketch for a Historical Picture of the Progress of the Human Mind, written while in hiding from the Revolutionary authorities, is a landmark of progressive thought.
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