John Stuart Mill

In the case of any person whose conduct affects prejudicially the interests of others, there is no room for the argument that he should be allowed to do as he likes, because it is his own affair.

The only security against total error is discussion.

The ultimate sanction, therefore, of all morality, is a subjective feeling in our own minds.

The only part of the conduct of any one, for which he is amenable to society, is that which concerns others.

To be prevented from doing what one is inclined to do, is bondage.

The government of dependencies by a free nation is always a most difficult problem.

The strongest argument against despotism is that it does not adequately educate the people it governs.

The human mind, when it is in a healthy state, is never satisfied with having attained a certain measure of truth; it is always aspiring to a higher.

The only business of the government is to prevent harm to others.

The ultimate end, with reference to and for the sake of which all other things are desirable (whether we are considering our own good or that of other people), is an existence exempt as far as possible from pain, and as rich as possible in enjoyments, both in point of quantity and quality.

It is questionable if all the mechanical inventions yet made have lessened the toil of any human being.

Men are not more zealous for truth than they often are for error, and a sufficiently frequent repetition of error, if not contradicted, passes for truth.

The strongest of all arguments against the present constitution of society is, that it does not permit the free development of every individual.

Despotism is a legitimate mode of government in dealing with barbarians, provided the end be their improvement.

Absoluteness of power is the most seductive of all illusions.

All that makes existence valuable to any one, depends on the enforcement of restraints upon the actions of other people.

Originality is the only thing which cannot be produced by any process of imitation.

The peculiar evil of silencing the expression of an opinion is, that it is robbing the human race.

The deeply-rooted notion, that the principles of justice are the same for all, and that in every case, justice consists in giving to each person that which he deserves, or is entitled to, is a common error.

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.