Question:medium

Who among the following political thinkers said "Man is born free and he is everywhere in chains"?

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Rousseau’s idea that "Man is born free, and everywhere he is in chains" illustrates his critique of the social contract and how society constrains natural liberty.
Updated On: Mar 5, 2026
  • Thomas Hobbes
  • John Locke
  • Jean-Jacques Rousseau
  • Karl Marx
Show Solution

The Correct Option is C

Solution and Explanation

Step 1: Interpreting Rousseau's Quote.
This well-known quote originates from Rousseau's *The Social Contract*, addressing the conflict between inherent human freedom and societal restrictions. Rousseau posited that while humans are born free, society's structures curtail individual liberty.
Step 2: Evaluating the Options.
- (1) Thomas Hobbes: Hobbes conceived the natural state as a disorderly "war of all against all," differing from Rousseau's emphasis on freedom.
- (2) John Locke: Locke championed natural rights but did not employ this particular quote. His concepts centered more on property rights and governance.
- (3) Jean-Jacques Rousseau: This is the correct attribution. Rousseau penned "Man is born free, and everywhere he is in chains," critiquing societal constraints on human freedom.
- (4) Karl Marx: Marx concentrated on class conflict and the economic underpinnings of social inequality, diverging from the philosophical notion of natural freedom.
Step 3: Final Answer.
The correct selection is (3) Jean-Jacques Rousseau.
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