Marquis de Mirabeau

This chapter highlights Jean-Jacques Rousseau's letter to Marquis de Mirabeau on March 25, 1767. Rousseau begins the letter by expressing his aversion for writing letters. He nevertheless yields to the pleasure of receiving them from people he loves only after having assured himself that they do not require an answer. He claims that nothing fatigues him more than writing, if not thinking. Rousseau then talks briefly about philosophy, before addressing Marquis de Mirabeau's supposition that Rousseau flees society because of aversion for it. He argues that he does not hate society, but he does hate the bother that he finds in it.