"The only freedom which deserves the name is that of pursuing our own good in our own way, so long as we do not attempt to deprive others of theirs, or impede their efforts to obtain it. Each is the proper guardian of his own health, whether bodily, or mental or spiritual. Mankind are greater gainers by suffering each other to live as seems good to themselves, than by compelling each to live as seems good to the rest."
John Stuart Mill, On Liberty, 1859
"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."
John Stuart Mill
"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."
John Stuart Mill, On Liberty
"Over one's mind and over one's body the individual is sovereign."
John Stuart Mill, On Liberty
There's nothing I can add. How prescient that these things were said over 100 years ago. I guess it's true, those that do not study history are doomed to repeat it.
1 comment:
The second quote is an old favorite of mine.
Thanks for the rest. Those are the days, long forgotten, when our country was formed with specific principles in mind.
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