John Stuart Mill Quotes
The only purpose for which power can be rightfully exercised over any member of a civilized community, against his will, is to prevent harm to others.
The only freedom which deserves the name is that of pursuing our own good in our own way, so long as we do not attempt to deprive others of theirs, or impede their efforts to obtain it.
War is an ugly thing, but not the ugliest of things. The decayed and degraded state of moral and patriotic feeling which thinks that nothing is worth war is much worse.
The worth of a state, in the long run, is the worth of the individuals composing it.
To tax the larger incomes at a higher percentage than the smaller, is to lay a tax on industry and economy; to impose a penalty on people for having worked harder and saved more than their neighbors.
The despotism of custom is everywhere the standing hindrance to human advancement.
The individual is not accountable to society for his actions insofar as these concern the interests of no person but himself.
The happiness of the individual is paramount and the only reason for governments to impose restrictions on individuals’ liberty is when it is necessary to prevent harm to others.
The liberty of the individual must be limited in order to prevent harm to others, but the limits should be minimal and only applied when necessary.
It is better to be a human being dissatisfied than a pig satisfied; better to be Socrates dissatisfied than a fool satisfied.
One person with a belief is equal to a force of ninety-nine who have only interests.
The only true test of one’s belief is how willing one is to allow others to express their different beliefs.
A person may cause evil to others not only by his actions but by his inaction, and in either case, he is justly accountable to them for their injury.
Without freedom of thought, there can be no such thing as wisdom; and no such thing as public liberty, without freedom of speech.
Conservatives are not necessarily stupid, but most stupid people are conservatives.
He who knows only his own side of the case knows little of that.
A person may be an expert in any field but must be able to understand and appreciate different perspectives.
The peculiar evil of silencing the expression of an opinion is that it is robbing the human race.
The condition of women is an index of civilization.
The legal subordination of one sex to the other is wrong in itself and is amongst the chief hindrances to human improvement.
The only power deserving the name is that of masses, and of governments while they make themselves the organ of masses.
The only rational guarantee that governments will treat their subjects with justice is if the subjects have the power to overthrow them.
The worth of a State, in the long run, is the worth of the individuals composing it.
The strength of the emotions is not only the sole strength we can possess but it is also our sole strength.
The individual is not accountable to society for his actions so long as they do not concern the interests of others.
It is better to be a human being dissatisfied than a pig satisfied; better to be Socrates dissatisfied than a fool satisfied.
Truth gains more even by the errors of one who, with due study and preparation, thinks for himself than by the true opinions of those who only hold them because they do not suffer themselves to think.
The amount of eccentricity in a society has generally been proportional to the amount of genius, mental vigor, and moral courage it contained.
Indignation is a submission of our thoughts, but not of our desires.
The human faculties of perception, judgment, discriminative feeling, mental activity, and even moral preference are exercised only in making a choice.
The fatal tendency of mankind to leave off thinking about a thing when it is no longer doubtful is the cause of half their errors.
It is desirable, in short, that in things which do not primarily concern others, individuality should assert itself.
No one person can possibly improve the condition of the masses of the poor.
No one is a more tyrannical ruler than he who has no rule over himself.
The only part of the conduct of any one, for which he is amenable to society, is that which concerns others.
The duty of government is to leave mankind alone and let them do everything that they possibly can.
All good things which exist are the fruits of originality.
A person may cause evil to others not only by his actions but by his inaction, and in either case, he is justly accountable to them for their injury.
Justice and order in society are not based on individual self-interest but on the well-being and happiness of all members of that society.
The freedom to make choices also carries with it the responsibility to accept the consequences of those choices.
The pursuit of individual happiness is not selfish and does not harm society, but rather contributes to the overall well-being of society.
The greatest defense against tyranny and oppression is a society of educated individuals who possess the ability to think critically and question authority.
The true measure of a society’s progress is not its GDP or technological advancements, but the level of happiness and well-being of its citizens.
It is not enough to have a government that respects individual rights and liberties; we must also have a society that values and promotes these ideals.
True freedom is not the absence of constraints, but the ability to choose one’s own constraints based on one’s own values and principles.
The true test of character is not what one does when it is easy, but what one does when it is difficult and unpopular.
The pursuit of knowledge and the freedom to think and express ideas are fundamental to human progress and enlightenment.
The mark of a civilized society is not how it treats its most privileged members, but how it cares for and uplifts its most vulnerable members.
Tolerance and respect for different beliefs and perspectives are essential for a diverse and vibrant society.
The power of empathy and compassion can bridge divides and heal wounds in ways that force and coercion never can.