Top 30 John Stuart Mill Quotes

This philosopher was characterized by being an advocate of freedom and individual rights.

Here is a selection a selection of quotes by John Stuart Mill, a key figure of utilitarianism.. The latter is one of the most important moral philosophies of the nineteenth century, which states that what is useful is good and, therefore, the value of behavior is determined by its utility.

The best phrases of John Stuart Mill

Since the ideas of John Stuart Mill were very influential, in the following lines we have prepared a compilation of his best quotes. John Stuart Mill's quotes reflect his tendency towards liberal ideas based on equality before the law and the defense of individual rights.

1. Every properly educated human being has a sincere interest in the public good.

John Stuart Mill is considered one of the greatest exponents of utilitarianism, which refers to the greatest good for the greatest number of people.

2. The principle that everyone is the best judge of his own interests, interpreted as the people who raise these objections interpret it, would prove that governments should not fulfill any of the duties recognized to them, i.e., that they should not really exist

A quotation from this author that invites the reader to deep reflection.

3. Every man intelligent and generous enough to contribute to the enterprise his effort, however small and insignificant it may be, will derive from the struggle itself a noble enjoyment which he will not be willing to sell for any selfish pleasure.

When one is intrinsically motivatedhe does not need much to feel fulfilled.

4. In reference to God he once said something like this: Think of someone capable of populating hell or creating paradise.

Seeing the world, God is capable of both good and evil.

5. Do as you would have them do unto you and love your neighbor as yourself.

An advice that refers to the fact that we should not do to others what we do not want them to do to us.

6. The value of a nation is nothing other than the value of the individuals that compose it.

A nation is moved by the individuals who are part of it.

7. Originality is the only thing whose usefulness the vulgar spirits cannot comprehend.

Mechanical people do not give free rein to their originality, because that requires a loose mind.

8. I never, indeed, wavered in the conviction that happiness is the test of every rule of conduct and the end of life.

For this author, the goal of every human being is the pursuit of happiness..

9. A democratic constitution that does not rest on democratic institutions in its details, but is limited to the central government, is not only not political freedom, but often creates a spirit that is precisely the opposite, leading to the lowest strata of society the desire and ambition for political domination.

Democracy represents the interests of the people, and should never be the other way around.

10. The love of money is not only one of the most powerful driving forces in human life, but in many cases it is desired for its own sake; the desire to possess it is often as strong as the desire to use it, and it continues to increase as all desires that aim at ends beyond money, but are achieved with it, die out.

There are many people who pursue money and it is their great source of motivation.

11. It is better to be a dissatisfied man than a satisfied pig.

The satisfied human being struggles to get out of his comfort zone. He is a human being instead.

12. All the good things that exist are the fruit of originality.

Originality is the key to adapting to change.

13. Every action is done with a view to an end, and it seems natural to suppose that the rules of an action must take all their character and color from the end to which they are subordinated. When we pursue an end, it seems that a clear and precise knowledge of the end, it seems that a clear and precise knowledge of the end would be the first thing necessary, rather than the last thing to be expected.

A reflection on motivation and how it means that people are constantly on the move.

14. Originality brings good things

A word about freedom and originality about freedom and originality.

15. Everyone is the natural guardian of his own health, whether physical, mental or spiritual. Humanity is better served by allowing everyone to live his own way than by forcing himself to live the way of others.

A sentence about freedom. Everyone should live in his own way.

16. Of these false theories, the most notable is the doctrine of the protection of domestic industry; a phrase which means the prohibition or restriction, by means of heavy customs duties, of those foreign goods which can be produced in the country.

A quote dealing with the phenomenon of international trade.

17. The individual is sovereign over himself, his body and his mind.

We are all masters of ourselves. In this sense, we are free.

18. A man's deep conviction subtracts him from the attacks of ridicule.

We may set high standards for ourselves because of the shame we may feel in certain situations.

19. It was men of a different stamp who have made England what it has been; and men of a different stamp will be needed to prevent its decline.

We the people are the essence of our nation, those who build it and those who destroy it.

20. The main elements that make up a contented life are two: tranquility and stimulation.

Living in peace with oneself is key to being happy, but so is being motivated.

21. It does not matter if it is not more beautiful or if it is not convenient, change is made for the sake of change itself.

Human beings are in constant changetransforming ourselves.

22. To entrust public instruction to the State constitutes a perverse machination tending to mold the human mind in such a way that there is not the slightest difference from one individual to another; the mold used for this purpose is the one most pleasing to the prevailing political regime, whether it is a monarchy, a theocracy, an aristocracy, or the public opinion of the moment; to the extent that such a task is carried out with success and effectiveness, a despotism is installed on the intelligence of men that later, by natural evolution, submits to its empire the very body of the people.

The state alienates the people. What may appear to be democracy is often not.

23. Matters such as the distribution of wealth. Is this question merely a human creation

A phrase that deals with political issues, such as the sharing of wealth.

24. The laws would never be improved if there were not numerous people whose moral sentiments are better than the existing laws.

Good people are the ones who drive social change, otherwise we would be condemned to the ideas of the state.

25. The student who is never asked to do what he cannot, never does what he can.

It is often difficult for people to do some things on their own initiative.

26. There is no way to find out what an individual is capable of doing except by letting him try, and the individual cannot be replaced by another individual in resolving about one's own life, one's own destiny and one's own happiness.

People often learn by trial and error. learn in many occasions by trial and error.

27. The only guarantee against political slavery is the restraint which the diffusion of intelligence, activity and public spirit among the governed can maintain over the rulers.

A reflection that aims to provide solutions to political slavery.

28. Genius can only breathe freely in an atmosphere of freedom.

When we coerce people, we also place limits on the capacity of individuals to be original.

29. There is no better proof of the progress of civilization than the progress of the power of cooperation.

Cooperation is one of the keys to the progress of civilization.

30. Charity almost always sins by excess or by defect: it squanders its treasures in one place and lets people starve in others

Charity is not the solution to the problem, only a stopgap.