English - Philosopher | May 20, 1806 - May 8, 1873
The most cogent reason for restricting the interference of government is the great evil of adding unnecessarily to its power.
John Stuart Mill
PowerGreatGovernmentEvilReason
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.
MindSocietyIndependenceBodyRight
All desirable things... are desirable either for the pleasure inherent in themselves, or as a means to the promotion of pleasure and the prevention of pain.
PainPreventionPromotionPleasure
Although it is not true that all conservatives are stupid people, it is true that most stupid people are conservative.
PeopleStupidTrueConservativeMost
Of two pleasures, if there be one which all or almost all who have experience of both give a decided preference, irrespective of any feeling of moral obligation to prefer it, that is the more desirable pleasure.
ExperienceFeelingMoralMoreTwo
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.
WarUglyWorthFeelingMoralThings
As long as justice and injustice have not terminated their ever renewing fight for ascendancy in the affairs of mankind, human beings must be willing, when need is, to do battle for the one against the other.
JusticeFightBattleLongInjustice
The general tendency of things throughout the world is to render mediocrity the ascendant power among mankind.
PowerWorldMediocrityMankindAmong
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.
ThinkingLeaveMankindHalfOff
What distinguishes the majority of men from the few is their inability to act according to their beliefs.
MenActBeliefsMajorityFew
Originality is the one thing which unoriginal minds cannot feel the use of.
FeelMindsOriginalityOne ThingUse
The liberty of the individual must be thus far limited; he must not make himself a nuisance to other people.
PeopleLibertyIndividualMustFar
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