Literal paraphrase:<br />
Constant is saying that some parts of a person’s life must always stay private and cannot be controlled by the government.
Interpretation:<br />
Constant argues that even in a democracy, political power has limits. The government cannot interfere with every aspect of someone’s life just because the majority agrees. This matters because he is warning that majority rule can still become tyranny if it crosses into personal freedom.
Time period:<br />
Constant is writing in the early 1800s, after the French Revolution, when Europe was debating how much power governments should have.
C – Context:<br />
The context is the aftermath of the French Revolution, when the idea of the “general will” had been used to justify extreme state power. Constant is pushing back against that idea by insisting that individual rights must be protected no matter what the majority wants.