Emile, or On Education

Regarding the first aspect, it is sufficient, for the project to be admissible and practicable in itself, that what is good in it be in the nature of the thing; here, for example, that the proposed education be suitable for man and well adapted to the human heart.

The second consideration depends on relationships given in certain situations: relationships accidental to the thing, which, consequently, are not necessary and can vary infinitely. Thus, such an education may be practicable in Switzerland and not be so in France; another may be so among the middle class, and yet another among the nobility. The greater or lesser ease of execution depends on a thousand circumstances, which it is impossible to determine otherwise than in a particular application of the method to this or that country, to this or that condition. Now, since all these particular applications are not essential to my subject,