John Stuart Mill

The only purpose for which power can be rightfully exercised over any member of a civilized community against his will read more

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.

That miscellaneous collection of a few wise and many foolish individuals, called the public.

That miscellaneous collection of a few wise and many foolish individuals, called the public.

Eccentricity has always abounded when and where strength of character has abounded; and the amount of eccentricity in a society read more

Eccentricity has always abounded when and where strength of character has abounded; and the amount of eccentricity in a society has generally been proportional to the amount of genius, mental vigor, and moral courage which it contained.

We can never be sure that the opinion we are endeavoring to stifle is a false opinion; and even if read more

We can never be sure that the opinion we are endeavoring to stifle is a false opinion; and even if we were sure, stifling it would be an evil still.