Paul-Claude Moultou

This chapter looks at Jean-Jacques Rousseau's letter to Paul-Claude Moultou on February 17, 1763. In this letter, Rousseau addresses the change in Moultou's language, saying that “six months ago you were indignant with M. de Voltaire for assuming me to be capable of one quarter of the base actions that you are now advising me to do.” He contends that it is not up to the offended one to ask forgiveness for the insults he has received. Rousseau then claims that he is tolerant out of principle in his religion; he tolerates everything except intolerance. He declares that he would no more want to live in Geneva than in Goa, the seat of the Inquisition in the East Indies.