This is a selection of phrases by John Stuart Mill, a key figure in utilitarianism The latter is one of the most important moral philosophies of the 19th century, which states that what is useful is good and, therefore, the value of behavior is determined by its usefulness.
The best phrases of John Stuart Mill
Since John Stuart Mill’s ideas were very influential, in the following lines we have prepared a compilation of his best quotes. John Stuart Mill’s phrases reflect his tendency towards liberal ideas based on equality before the law and the defense of individual rights.
1. Every properly educated human being feels 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 interpreted by the people who formulate these objections, would prove that governments should not fulfill any of the duties recognized to them, that is, that in reality They should not exist
A quote from this author that invites the reader to deep reflection.
3. Every man intelligent and generous enough to contribute his effort to the enterprise, no matter how small and insignificant it may be, will obtain from the struggle itself a noble enjoyment that he will not be willing to sell for any selfish pleasure.
When one is intrinsically motivated you don’t 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 doing both good and evil.
5. Do as you would have them do to you and love your neighbor as yourself
Advice that refers to the fact that we should not do to others what we do not want them to do to ourselves.
6. The value of a nation is nothing other than the value of the individuals that make it up
A nation is moved by the individuals who are part of it.
7. Originality is the only thing whose usefulness cannot be understood by vulgar minds
Mechanical people do not give free rein to their originality, because that requires a less rigid mind.
8. I never, in truth, 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 is not based on democratic institutions in its details, but is limited to the central government, not only is it not political freedom, but it frequently creates a spirit that is precisely the opposite, taking even the lowest strata of society’s desire and ambition for political dominance
Democracy represents the interests of the people, and it 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 away.
There are many people who chase money and it is their great source of motivation.
11. It is better to be a dissatisfied man than a satisfied pig
Satisfied human beings fight to get out of their comfort zone. He is a human being instead.
12. All the good things that exist are the result of originality
Originality is key to adapting to change.
13. Every action is carried out 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 a purpose, it seems that a clear and precise knowledge of the purpose would be the first thing necessary, rather than the last thing to be expected.
A reflection that deals with motivation and how it means that people are constantly on the move.
14. Originality brings good things
A few words that deal about freedom and originality
15. Each person is the natural guardian of their own health, whether physical, mental or spiritual. Humanity gains more by allowing everyone to live their own way rather than by forcing themselves to live the way others do.
A phrase about freedom. Each one must live in his own way.
16. Of these false theories, the most notable is the doctrine of protection of the national industry; phrase that means the prohibition or restriction, through heavy customs duties, of those foreign goods that can be produced in the country
A quote that deals with the phenomenon of international trade.
17. Over himself, over his body and over his mind, the individual is sovereign
We are all masters of ourselves. In this sense, we are free.
18. A man’s deep conviction protects 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 kind who made England what it has been; and men of another stamp will be necessary to prevent its decline
People are the essence of our nation, those who built it and those who destroyed it.
20. The main elements that make up a satisfied life are two: tranquility and stimulation
Living at peace with yourself 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, the change is made for the change itself
Human beings are constantly changing transforming us.
22. Entrusting public education to the State constitutes a perverse machination aimed at molding 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 to the public opinion of the moment; To the extent that such a task is carried out correctly and effectively, a despotism is installed over the intelligence of men that later, by natural evolution, subjects the very body of the people to its empire.
The state alienates people. What may seem like democracy is often not democracy.
23. Issues such as the distribution of wealth. Is this question mere human creation
A phrase that deals with political issues, such as the distribution of wealth.
24. Laws would never be improved if there were not numerous people whose moral feelings are better than the existing laws
Good people are the ones who drive social change, because otherwise we would be condemned to the ideas of the state.
25. The student who is never asked to do what he cannot do, never does what he can.
Many times, it is 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 when it comes to deciding about his own life, his own destiny, and his own happiness.
People We often learn by trial and error
27. The only guarantee against political slavery is the brake that can maintain on the rulers the diffusion among the governed of intelligence, activity and public spirit
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 individuals’ ability 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 errs on the side of excess or defect: it squanders its treasures in one place and leaves people to starve in others.
Charity is not the solution to the problem, only a patch.
31. The only purpose for which power can be legitimately exercised over any member of a civilized community, against his will, is to prevent harm to others. Your own good, whether physical or moral, is not a sufficient guarantee
Governments must ensure the well-being of their citizens no matter what.
32. A man who has nothing for which he is willing to fight, nothing that is more important than his own personal safety, is a miserable creature and has no chance of being free unless it is made and maintained by the efforts of men. better than him.
Virtuous goals in life make us better people.
33. Although it is not true that all conservatives are stupid, it is true that most stupid people are conservatives
A rather negative opinion about conservatism.
34. A person can cause harm to others not only by his actions but also by his inaction, and in any case he is fairly responsible to them for the harm
It wouldn’t be the first time someone caused harm to others through inaction.
35. Bad men do not need anything else to achieve their ends, good men look and do nothing
A phenomenon often repeated throughout numerous injustices throughout the history of humanity.
36. If all of humanity except one were of one opinion, and only one person were of the opposite opinion, humanity would no more be justified in silencing that person than he, if he had the power, would be justified in silencing humanity.
Democracy is respect for minorities, also for minority opinions.
37. I have learned to seek my happiness by limiting my desires, instead of trying to satisfy them.
A philosophy shared by many religions around the world, especially in the East.
International relations was one of the topics most addressed by this economist and philosopher.
39. Precisely because the tyranny of opinion is such that it makes eccentricity a reproach, it is desirable, to break that tyranny, for people to be eccentric.
Mill advocated the book of thought and freedom of opinion.
40. In this age, the mere example of nonconformity, the mere refusal to bend the knee to custom, is in itself a service
Many of his works emphasize the importance of being faithful to one’s own values regardless of official opinions.
41. Only those who have their minds fixed on some object other than their own happiness are happy (I thought); in the happiness of others, in the improvement of humanity, even in some art or pursuit, followed not as a means, but as an ideal end in itself
Sometimes you find happiness without paying attention to it.
42. The only freedom worthy of the name is that of pursuing our own good in our own way, as long as we do not attempt to deprive others of theirs, or impede their efforts to obtain it.
A phrase that continues to be fully valid.
43. I consider it presumption in anyone to try to decide what women are or are not, can or cannot be, by natural constitution
A vision far ahead of its time.
44. There are many truths whose full meaning cannot be understood until personal experience has made them understandable.
Experience is the last filter that helps us understand the reality around us.
45. Marriage is the only form of slavery permitted by law
Some marriages function as systems of slavery.
46. War is an ugly thing, but not the ugliest of things. Much worse is the decadent and degraded state of moral and patriotic sentiment that thinks that nothing is worth waging war on.
A controversial approach that compares wars to failed states.
47. The saying that truth always triumphs over persecution is one of the pleasant falsehoods that men repeat one after another until they become commonplace, but which all experience refutes.
Throughout history, tyranny has often prevailed over truth.
48. Life has a certain flavor for those who have fought and risked everything that the sheltered and protected will never be able to experience.
Those who have been in critical situations value what they have more and better.
49. One person with a belief is equal to ninety-nine who only have interests
An open criticism of the beliefs of human beings.
50. The amount of eccentricity in a society has generally been proportional to the amount of genius, mental vigor, and moral courage it contained. That so few now dare to be eccentric marks the main danger of the time
Eccentricity has led to great creations in the field of art, philosophy or politics.
51. Stupidity is very similar all over the world. The notions and feelings of a stupid person can be confidently inferred from those that prevail in the circle around him. Not so with those whose opinions and feelings are an emanation of their own nature and faculties.
Stuart Mill, on stupidity.
52. It is not yet recognized that to give birth to a child without a just prospect of power, not only to provide nourishment for its body, but also instruction and training for its mind, is a moral crime, both against the unfortunate offspring and against the society; And that if the father does not comply with this obligation, the State must enforce it, at the expense, if possible, of the father
Mill was ahead of his time by denouncing certain atrocities that were not yet considered crimes.
53. It is not because men’s desires are strong that they act badly; It is because their consciences are weak
A possible explanation of human evil.
54. Christian morality (so called) has all the characteristics of a reaction; It is, in large part, a protest against paganism. His ideal is more negative than positive; passive instead of action; innocence before nobility; Abstinence from Evil, rather than an energetic Search for Good: in its precepts (as has been well said) the ‘thou shalt not’ unduly predominates over the ‘thou shalt’.
An interesting reflection on Christianity and its desire for prohibition.
55. The object of this Essay is to affirm a very simple principle, as empowered to absolutely govern the relations of society with the individual in the form of compulsion and control, whether the means used are physical force in the form of legal sanctions, or morality. coercion of public opinion
Presentation of his work “On Liberty”.
56. Even despotism does not produce its worst effects while individuality exists under it; and everything that crushes individuality is despotism, by whatever name it is called, and whether it seeks to enforce the will of God or the commands of men.
A reflection by Mill on individuality.
57. Every man who says frankly and fully what he thinks is thus far doing a public service. We should be grateful to him for attacking our most cherished opinions with the utmost harshness.
Freedom of opinion and thought were non-negotiable for Mill.
58. A State that makes its men smaller, so that they are more docile instruments in its hands even for charitable purposes, will discover that with small men nothing great can really be achieved
A great state can only be made with virtuous men.
59. The creed that accepts as the foundation of morality, Utility, or the Principle of Greatest Happiness, maintains that actions are right to the extent that they tend to promote happiness, and wrong to the extent that they tend to produce happiness. the opposite of happiness. Happiness means pleasure and the absence of pain; for unhappiness, pain and deprivation of pleasure
Definition of one of the basic elements of his philosophical system: Utilitarianism.
60. It is true that people of genius are, and are likely to always be, a small minority; but to have them it is necessary to preserve the soil in which they grow
Genius is not abundant these days.
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