These were the crying grievances which united in a solid phalanx both thinkers and practical men, and thereby gave an immense impetus to the levelling doctrines of Rousseau.
Two only of his political teachings concern us here, namely, social equality and the unquestioned supremacy of the State; for to these dogmas, when they seemed doomed to political bankruptcy, Napoleon Buonaparte was to act as residuary legatee.

According to Rousseau, society and government originated in a social contract, whereby all members of the community have equal rights.

It matters not that the spirit of the contract may have evaporated amidst the miasma of luxury.

That is a violation of civil society; and members are justified in reverting at once to the primitive ideal.

If the existence of the body politic be endangered, force may be used: "Whoever refuses to obey the general will shall be constrained to do so by the whole body; which means nothing else than that he shall be forced to be free." Equally plausible and dangerous was his teaching as to the indivisibility of the general will.