How we cite our quotes: (Book.Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #1
Thus, before my future career was decided, I wasted the most precious period of my life in foolishness. (1.3.1)
Sure, he says he wasted time. We're thinking that Rousseau might look fondly back his foolish years, though.
Quote #2
Young and foolish though the Count Favria was, he gave me a most sensible lecture on the occasion. (3.1.21)
Do you think Rousseau has a weird and wonderful ability to discern who's foolish and who's wise?
Quote #3
This action, foolish though it was, earned me a sort of consideration in the country, which was useful to me. (5.1.18)
Rousseau realizes early on that bravado is often interpreted as clever, rather than foolish.
Quote #4
Perhaps he attributed the credit of it to me, and supposed that I was less stupid than I looked. (6.2.21)
For such a whip-smart guy, Rousseau sure loves to put his own intelligence down.
Quote #5
Since my foolish and tiresome silence, which I could not overcome, arose from my fear of making social blunders I elected, in order to give myself courage, to trample all courtesies underfoot. (8.1.18)
That's Rousseau for you. His mantra: Being silent is always a mistake, while brashly rushing ahead gets something accomplished.
Quote #6
So I lost more than half the time I had left in rubbing or scratching out my mistakes, or beginning again on a fresh sheet. (8.1.26)
Making mistakes is tedious work, especially when you're a copyist.
Quote #7
[…] and when I heard he had been superseded I wrote to him, in my foolishness, the following letter that I will not attempt to justify. (10.1.55)
Rousseau's an impulsive fellow. Sometimes, that impulsiveness translates to him doing stupid things.
Quote #8
I was stupid enough to make this extract with much care and great labour. (10.1.144)
Rousseau knows that Mme Luxembourg has a hasty temper, but he just can't help himself from foolishly inscribing her book with an insulting epithet.