John Stuart Mill

English philosopher and economist remembered for his interpretations of empiricism and utilitarianism (1806-1873)

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All good things which exist are the fruits of originality.
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 sufficient warrant.
One person with a belief is equal to a force of 99 who have only interests.
Those only are happy who have their minds fixed on some object other than their own happiness: on the happiness of others, on the improvement of mankind, even on some art or pursuit followed not as a means, but as itself an ideal end. Aiming at something else, they find happiness by the way.
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 the injury.
Ask yourself whether you are happy and you cease to be so.
Conservatives are not necessarily stupid, but most stupid people are conservatives.
Everyone who receives the protection of society owes a return for the benefit.
If all mankind minus one were of one 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.
If mankind minus one were of one opinion, then mankind is no more justified in silencing the one than the one - if he had the power - would be justified in silencing mankind.
Indeed the dictum that truth always triumphs over persecution, is one of those pleasant falsehoods which men repeat after one another till they pass into common places, but which all experience refutes.
Popular opinions, on subjects not palpable to sense, are often true, but seldom or never the whole truth.
Solitude, in the sense of being often alone, is essential to any depth of meditation or of character and solitude in the presence of natural beauty and grandeur, is the cradle of thought and aspirations which are not only good for the individual, but which society could ill do without.
That so few now dare to be eccentric, marks the chief danger of our time.
That which seems the height of absurdity in one generation often becomes the height of wisdom in the next.
The pupil who is never required to do what he cannot do, never does what he can do.
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 person who has nothing for which he is willing to fight, nothing which is more important than his own personal safety, is a miserable creature and has no chance of being free unless made and kept so by the exertions of better men than himself.

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