The phrase "Man is born free, and everywhere he is in chains" was said by the French political philosopher Jean-Jacques Rousseau. This famous statement appears in his work "The Social Contract," where Rousseau explores the tension between natural freedom and the constraints imposed by society and social institutions
. Rousseau's meaning behind this phrase is that humans are naturally born with freedom, but the social, political, and economic systems they live within impose restrictions and inequalities that limit that freedom. He argued that these "chains" are often invisible but deeply affect human behavior and social relations
. Thus, Rousseau is recognized as the originator of this idea, which has become a foundational concept in modern political philosophy and discussions about freedom, society, and human rights
