John Stuart Mill
John Stuart Mill
John Stuart Millwas an English philosopher, political economist, feminist, and civil servant. One of the most influential thinkers in the history of liberalism, he contributed widely to social theory, political theory and political economy. He has been called "the most influential English-speaking philosopher of the nineteenth century." Mill's conception of liberty justified the freedom of the individual in opposition to unlimited state control...
NationalityEnglish
ProfessionPhilosopher
Date of Birth20 May 1806
John Stuart Mill quotes about
punishment giving criminals
Since the state must necessarily provide subsistence for the criminal poor while undergoing punishment, not to do the same for the poor who have not offended is to give a premium on crime.
tradition wells statesmen
A great statesman is he who knows when to depart from traditions, as well as when to adhere to them.
individuality liberty culture
If it were felt that the free development of individuality is one of the leading essentials of well-being; that it is not only a coordinate element with all that is designated by the terms civilisation, instruction, education, culture, but is itself a necessary part and condition of all those things; there would be no danger that liberty should be undervalued.
vanity quality purpose
When a thing is bought not for its use but for its costliness, cheapness is no recommendation. As Sismondi remarks, the consequence of cheapening articles of vanity, is not that less is expended on such things, but that the buyers substitute for the cheapened article some other which is more costly, or a more elaborate quality of the same thing; and as the inferior quality answered the purpose of vanity equally well when it was equally expensive, a tax on the article is really paid by nobody: it is a creation of public revenue by which nobody loses.
inference process known
Induction is a process of inference; it proceeds from the known to the unknown.
selfishness next causes
Next to selfishness the principal cause which makes life unsatisfactory is want of mental cultivation.
despotism asks customs
The despotism of custom is on the wane. We are not content to know that things are; we ask whether they ought to be.
moments cease asks
The moment one asks himself whether he is happy, he ceases to be so.
natural domination possessed
Was there ever any domination that did not appear natural to those who possessed it?
pigs satisfied dissatisfied
It is better to be Socrates dissatisfied than a pig satisfied.
advancement standing-alone despotism
The despotism of custom is everywhere the standing hindrance to human advancement.
independence mind society
The only part of the conduct of any one, for which he is amenable to society, is that which concerns others. In the part which merely concerns himself, his independence is, of right, absolute. Over himself, over his own body and mind, the individual is sovereign.
stupidity world
Stupidity is much the same all the world over
overcoming advancement obstacles
The perpetual obstacle to human advancement is custom.