The first and most important rule of legitimate or popular government, that is to say, of government whose object is the good of the people, is therefore, as i have observed, to follow in everything the general will. but to follow this will it is 5 necessary to know it, and above all to distinguish it from the

Particular will

This is an excerpt from Jean Jacques Rousseau's "A Discourse on Political Economy." In it, he discusses a lot of the themes that are present in "The Social Contract" and his "Discourse on Inequality."

The particular will here is contrasted to the general will.

The particular will refers to the desires that each individual has. For example, prestige, money, recognition among his peers, etc. On the other hand, Rousseau argues that a good government should focus on following the general will, which is the one that pursues the common good.

Moreover, citizens should put the general will ahead of their particular will in everything that concerns the state, if they are to maintain a good political system.

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