Seven days with On Liberty
Mill in seven passages: the only legitimate reason to limit anyone's freedom, the despotism of custom, and why genius needs air to breathe.
Day 1
“The only purpose for which power can be rightfully exercised over any member of a civilised community, against his will, is to prevent harm to others.”
— John Stuart Mill, On Liberty
Day 2
“A person may cause evil to others not only by his actions but by his inaction.”
— John Stuart Mill, On Liberty
Day 3
“The despotism of custom is everywhere the standing hindrance to human advancement.”
— John Stuart Mill, On Liberty
Day 4
“He who lets the world, or his own portion of it, choose his plan of life for him, has no need of any other faculty than the ape-like one of imitation.”
— John Stuart Mill, On Liberty
Day 5
“Genius can only breathe freely in an atmosphere of freedom.”
— John Stuart Mill, On Liberty
Day 6
“The amount of eccentricity in a society has generally been proportional to the amount of genius, mental vigour, and moral courage which it contained.”
— John Stuart Mill, On Liberty
Day 7
“The worth of a State, in the long run, is the worth of the individuals composing it.”
— John Stuart Mill, On Liberty