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.

About John Stuart Mill

John Stuart Mill (20 May 1806 – 7 May 1873) was an English philosopher, political economist, and politician. He was a paradigmatic philosopher of liberalism and has been described as "the most influential English-speaking philosopher of the nineteenth century" by the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy. He conceived of liberty as...

More quotations from John Stuart Mill

No great improvements in the lot of mankind are possible until a great change takes place in the fundamental constitution of their modes of thought.

—John Stuart Mill

Ask yourself whether you are happy and you cease to be so.

—John Stuart Mill

happiness doubt

But society has now fairly got the better of individuality; and the danger which threatens human nature is not the excess, but the deficiency, of personal impulses and preferences.

—John Stuart Mill

society

War may sometimes be a necessary evil. But no matter how necessary, it is always an evil, never a good. We will not learn how to live together in peace by killing each other's children.

—John Stuart Mill

war

One person with a belief is equal to a force of 99 who have only interests.

—John Stuart Mill

power

More quotations tagged with “mankind”

Reconsider your definitions. We are prone to judge success by the index of our salaries or the size of our automobiles rather than by the quality of our service and relationship to mankind.

—Martin Luther King Jr.

humanity success money mankind cars charity service definitions

Compassion, in which all ethics must take root, can only attain its full breadth and depth if it embraces all living creatures and does not limit itself to mankind.

—Albert Schweitzer

living ethics compassion depth mankind

All human beings are also dream beings. Dreaming ties all mankind together.

—Jack Kerouac

imagination dreams mankind

The most common of all follies is to believe passionately in the palpably not true. It is the chief occupation of mankind.

—H. L. Mencken

belief mankind passion

I love mankind; it's people I can't stand.

—Charles M. Schulz

people mankind

History

20 Dec 2014 Added
26 Oct 2026 Wording changed

Previous wording

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.