What does it mean that man is born free, but is always in chains

This is the first sentence of the first chapter of the first volume of Rousseau's famous book, The Social Contract.

It means that people are born free, which is a natural human right, and people are born equal, but the rights always have to correspond to the same obligations, otherwise the rights of other people can not be realized, the so-called obligations or restrictions on the side of the so-called "shackles".

Born free, is undoubtedly an expectation or an ideal, when the ideal back to reality, there will always be a certain constraints and limitations, that is, such a "yoke" is undoubtedly exist.

Human beings are born free, but they are always in chains. This is a very apt description of how humans are burdened by thinking errors. Thinking errors and cognitive traps are like a companion to human beings, ubiquitous in their pursuit and invisible when they are not thought about. One can think about one's own thinking and refuse to let it be contaminated.

Expanded:

Rousseau, the nature-lover

Rousseau loved nature. He had his own unique wanderlust, he felt that at such an age he had the opportunity to climb mountains, climbed the peak of the Alps, it is really a beautiful thing. Along the way, Rousseau was in a very happy mood and had nothing to worry about.

This journey is short, but Rousseau loved the natural scenery, the beauty of the road as far as the eye can see, he will be emotionally dependent on nature, although in the middle of the wandering, but no sense of spiritual emptiness. Whatever is reflected in Rousseau's eyes, all make his heart feel a kind of intoxicating enjoyment. Nature's wondrous, colorful and practical beauty, y affected Rousseau's outlook on life.

Later he experienced many trips, whether it is the beauty of the journey, or the countryside of the rural life, still make him intoxicated and fascinated. He loved nature and revered it.

From adolescence, Rousseau has loved nature. This enthusiasm, he has been tirelessly copying, expressed in his writings. Nature permeated his entire life.

Baidu Encyclopedia - Social Contract Theory