“The people of England regards itself as free; but it is grossly mistaken; it is free only during the election of members of parliament.”Jean-Jacques Rousseau · Contractul social · 1762 · Cartea III, capitolul 15
Whoever votes once every four years is free for one day and governed for four.
The remark strikes at the illusion that periodic elections exhaust political freedom. If sovereignty belongs to the people, it cannot be handed over for whole years to representatives who then decide alone. Rousseau suggests that between two votes the citizen is once again a subject, not an author. The example is topical: someone who votes once every four years and then has no say over the laws is free for a day and governed for four years.
Why it matters It asks today what it means to take part in decisions between elections, not just cast a vote and wait.