amour de soi
A consistent theme since Book I (see e.g. para12_note1 above) is that the innocent, self-preserving instinct of amour de soi must be nurtured and allowed to strengthen while the corrupting, self-promoting instinct of amour-propre must be delayed and carefully channeled. This is especially necessary now at the stage of adolescence when Emile's budding sexually naturally makes him want to relate to others.