The quotations of

John Stuart Mill

British philosopher and political economist

1806–1873

19 quotes, most often on Debate, Freedom and Truth & Lies.

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. His own good, either physical or moral, is not a sufficient warrant.
On Liberty (1859), Ch. 1: IntroductoryIn context
- Government
- Liberty
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.
On Liberty (1859), Ch. II: Of the Liberty of Thought and DiscussionIn context
- Thinking
- Truth & Lies
Whatever crushes individuality is despotism, by whatever name it may be called, and whether it professes to be enforcing the will of God or the injunctions of men.
On Liberty (1859), Ch. III: Of Individuality, As One of the Elements of Well-BeingIn context
- Liberty
- Power
A bureaucracy always tends to become a pedantocracy.
On Representative Government (1861), Ch. VI: Of the Infirmities and Dangers to Which Representative Government Is Liable (p. 234)
- Government
It is not because men’s desires are strong that they act ill; it is because their consciences are weak.
On Liberty (1859)In context
- Morality
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 a war, is much worse.
“The Contest in America,” Fraser’s Magazine (February 1862)
- Patriotism
- War & Peace
One person with a belief is a social power equal to ninety-nine who have only interests.
On Representative Government (1861), Ch. I: To What Extent Forms of Government Are a Matter of Choice (p. 155)
- Power
To do as one would be done by, and to love one’s neighbour as oneself, constitute the ideal perfection of utilitarian morality.
Utilitarianism (1861), Ch. 2
- Morality
Stupidity is much the same all the world over.
The Subjection of Women (1869), Ch. 1
- Intelligence
No one can be a great thinker who does not recognise, that as a thinker it is his first duty to follow his intellect to whatever conclusions it may lead.
On Liberty (1859), Ch. II: Of the Liberty of Thought and DiscussionIn context
- Thinking
Those only are happy (I thought) who have their minds fixed on some object other than their own happiness.
Autobiography (1873), Ch. 5: A Crisis in My Mental History. One Stage Onward. (p. 142)
- Happiness
I deny that anyone knows, or can know, the nature of the two sexes, as long as they have only been seen in their present relation to one another.
The Subjection of Women (1869), Ch. 1
- Men
- Women
Let not any one pacify his conscience by the delusion that he can do no harm if he takes no part, and forms no opinion. Bad men need nothing more to compass their ends, than that good men should look on and do nothing.
Inaugural Address Delivered to the University of St. Andrews, Feb. 1st 1867 (1867) p. 36.
- Good & Evil
- Responsibility
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.
On Liberty (1859), Chapter IIn context
- Freedom
- Liberty
If all mankind minus one, were of one opinion, and only one person were of the contrary opinion, mankind would be no more justified in silencing that one person, than he, if he had the power, would be justified in silencing mankind.
On Liberty (1859), Chapter II (1 of 2)In context
- Debate
- Freedom

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