Abstract:The principle of virtue and freedom tells classic political philosophy from modern political philosophy. Jean-Jacques Rousseau was the political philosopher that stood between classic virtue and modern freedom. On one hand by virtue he criticized the modern society of science and arts, upon which he has reconstructed the significance of classic virtue; on the other hand, the freedom is the key content of his political philosophy. He signified freedom and equality as the elemental purpose in political society. But the dilemma between freedom and virtue was what he had to face. In short, his true intention was to restore the original goodness in free social condition and the civil virtue matching the classic virtue in the political society in which the classic polis has passed away and the notion of citizen has become an outdated sign.