{
  "type": "quote",
  "site": {
    "name": "Leafy Quotes",
    "language": "en",
    "url": "https://www.leafyquotes.com"
  },
  "formats": "Every page has two versions with the same data: JSON (the page address + .json) and markdown (the page address + .md). Append .json or .md to any `url` in this document.",
  "url": "https://www.leafyquotes.com/jean-jacques-rousseau/emile-or-on-education/the-chief-drawback",
  "json": "https://www.leafyquotes.com/jean-jacques-rousseau/emile-or-on-education/the-chief-drawback.json",
  "markdown": "https://www.leafyquotes.com/jean-jacques-rousseau/emile-or-on-education/the-chief-drawback.md",
  "id": "6b230eb9-72c8-42e4-9510-ca74f2657b68",
  "slug": "the-chief-drawback",
  "text": "The chief drawback to this early education is that it is only appreciated by the wise; to vulgar eyes the child so carefully educated is nothing but a rough little boy. A tutor thinks rather of the advantage to himself than to his pupil; he makes a point of showing that there has been no time wasted; he provides his pupil with goods which can be readily displayed in the shop window, accomplishments which can be shown off at will; no matter whether they are useful, provided they are easily seen. Without choice or discrimination he loads his memory with a pack of rubbish. If the child is to be examined he is set to display his wares; he spreads them out, satisfies those who behold them, packs up his bundle and goes his way. My pupil is poorer, he has no bundle to display, he has only himself to show. Now neither child nor man can be read at a glance. Where are the observers who can at once discern the characteristics of this child? There are such people, but they are few and far between; among a thousand fathers you will scarcely find one.\n\nA man must needs have a good judgment if he is to estimate the judgment of a child.",
  "language": "en",
  "author": {
    "name": "Jean Jacques Rousseau",
    "slug": "jean-jacques-rousseau",
    "url": "https://www.leafyquotes.com/jean-jacques-rousseau"
  },
  "book": {
    "title": "Emile; or On Education",
    "slug": "emile-or-on-education",
    "url": "https://www.leafyquotes.com/jean-jacques-rousseau/emile-or-on-education"
  },
  "character": null,
  "chapter": null,
  "chapter_parent": null,
  "page": null,
  "verified": false,
  "original": null,
  "other_languages": [],
  "topics": [
    {
      "name": "education",
      "slug": "education",
      "url": "https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/education"
    },
    {
      "name": "appearances",
      "slug": "appearances",
      "url": "https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/appearances"
    }
  ],
  "source": {
    "name": "Wikiquote",
    "url": "https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Emile,_or_On_Education#Book_II",
    "license": {
      "label": "CC BY-SA 4.0",
      "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/"
    }
  },
  "added_at": "2026-09-25T22:39:33",
  "more_from_book": [
    {
      "id": "f9addfa9-a0ca-4ffe-8f74-8adf51607317",
      "slug": "where-is-the-man",
      "url": "https://www.leafyquotes.com/jean-jacques-rousseau/emile-or-on-education/where-is-the-man",
      "text": "Where is the man who owes nothing to the land in which he lives? Whatever that land may be, he owes to it the most precious thing possessed by man, the morality of his actions and the love of virtue.",
      "language": "en",
      "character": null,
      "chapter": null,
      "chapter_parent": null,
      "page": null,
      "verified": false,
      "original": null,
      "other_languages": [],
      "topics": [
        {
          "name": "homeland",
          "slug": "homeland",
          "url": "https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/homeland"
        }
      ],
      "source": {
        "name": "Wikiquote",
        "url": "https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Emile,_or_On_Education#Book_V",
        "license": {
          "label": "CC BY-SA 4.0",
          "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/"
        }
      },
      "added_at": "2026-09-26T07:49:17"
    },
    {
      "id": "fd1e8dc4-3494-489f-bd85-64f0284b2d67",
      "slug": "gluttony-is-the",
      "url": "https://www.leafyquotes.com/jean-jacques-rousseau/emile-or-on-education/gluttony-is-the",
      "text": "Gluttony is the vice of feeble minds. The gourmand has his brains in his palate, he can do nothing but eat; he is so stupid and incapable that the table is the only place for him, and dishes are the only things he knows anything about. Let us leave him to this business without regret; it is better for him and for us.",
      "language": "en",
      "character": null,
      "chapter": null,
      "chapter_parent": null,
      "page": null,
      "verified": false,
      "original": null,
      "other_languages": [],
      "topics": [
        {
          "name": "stupidity",
          "slug": "stupidity",
          "url": "https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/stupidity"
        },
        {
          "name": "food",
          "slug": "food",
          "url": "https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/food"
        }
      ],
      "source": {
        "name": "Wikiquote",
        "url": "https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Emile,_or_On_Education#Book_II",
        "license": {
          "label": "CC BY-SA 4.0",
          "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/"
        }
      },
      "added_at": "2026-09-26T07:49:16"
    },
    {
      "id": "e128a050-d429-4d14-bcf2-787868b4245a",
      "slug": "nature-never-deceives",
      "url": "https://www.leafyquotes.com/jean-jacques-rousseau/emile-or-on-education/nature-never-deceives",
      "text": "Nature never deceives us; it is always we who deceive ourselves.",
      "language": "en",
      "character": null,
      "chapter": null,
      "chapter_parent": null,
      "page": null,
      "verified": false,
      "original": null,
      "other_languages": [],
      "topics": [
        {
          "name": "nature",
          "slug": "nature",
          "url": "https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/nature"
        },
        {
          "name": "lies",
          "slug": "lies",
          "url": "https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/lies"
        }
      ],
      "source": {
        "name": "Wikiquote",
        "url": "https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Emile,_or_On_Education#Book_III",
        "license": {
          "label": "CC BY-SA 4.0",
          "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/"
        }
      },
      "added_at": "2026-09-26T07:49:16"
    }
  ]
}