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Quote Analysis in On Liberty

Quote Analysis Examples in On Liberty:

Chapter I. Introductory.

🔒 16

"The disposition of mankind, whether as rulers or as fellow-citizens to impose their own opinions and inclinations as a rule of conduct on others, is so energetically supported by some of the best and by some of the worst feelings incident to human nature, that it is hardly ever kept under restraint by anything but want of power; and as the power is not declining, but growing, unless a strong barrier of moral conviction can be raised against the mischief, we must expect, in the present circumstances of the world, to see it increase..."   (Chapter I. Introductory.)

Mill makes a broad claim about human behavior: the desire to impose our views on others is so inherent in human nature that, unless we make a drastic change, we can expect to continue seeing more and more limitations of individual liberties by society.

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"this encroachment is not one of the evils which tend spontaneously to disappear, but, on the contrary, to grow more and more formidable..."   (Chapter I. Introductory.)

Mill expresses concern that society is increasingly limiting the social and political liberties of individuals.

 

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"In the modern world, the greater size of political communities, and above all, the separation between spiritual and temporal authority (which placed the direction of men's consciences in other hands than those which controlled their worldly affairs), prevented so great an interference by law in the details of private life; but the engines of moral repression have been wielded more strenuously against divergence from the reigning opinion in self-regarding, than even in social matters..."   (Chapter I. Introductory.)

Here, Mill points out how the size of governments and nations has affected the change in liberties. Countries are large enough that they can allow personal liberties without risking their extinction (something that small countries had to look out for). Plus, the separation of Church and State allows for more personal liberties. Even so, society pushes for more and more conformity.

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"And it seems to me that in consequence of this absence of rule or principle, one side is at present as often wrong as the other; the interference of government is, with about equal frequency, improperly invoked and improperly condemned..."   (Chapter I. Introductory.)

Mill points out that there is no objective standard for how much government interference is "right." About half of the time the government interferes when it shouldn't. The other half of the time, the public condemns government interference when it shouldn't.

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"But, as yet, there is a considerable amount of feeling ready to be called forth against any attempt of the law to control individuals in things in which they have not hitherto been accustomed to be controlled by it; and this with very little discrimination as to whether the matter is, or is not, within the legitimate sphere of legal control; insomuch that the feeling, highly salutary on the whole, is perhaps quite as often misplaced as well grounded in the particular instances of its application..."   (Chapter I. Introductory.)

People are ready to cry out against governments if their personal lives are interfered with in ways that they have not been before, regardless of whether the law should allow for these interferences or not. These outcries are justified about half of the time, but the fact that the public is willing to raise its voice against the government is beneficial overall.

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"Wherever the sentiment of the majority is still genuine and intense, it is found to have abated little of its claim to be obeyed..."   (Chapter I. Introductory.)

Mill points out that one of the challenging of a majority is that it has power simply because it is a majority. Even if they shouldn't be, the feelings of the majority, for good or bad, are often imposing.

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"In the minds of almost all religious persons, even in the most tolerant countries, the duty of toleration is admitted with tacit reserves..."   (Chapter I. Introductory.)

In other words, Mill is saying that almost all religious individuals practice religious toleration reluctantly.

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"The only case in which the higher ground has been taken on principle and maintained with consistency, by any but an individual here and there, is that of religious belief: a case instructive in many ways, and not least so as forming a most striking instance of the fallibility of what is called the moral sense: for the odium theologicum, in a sincere bigot, is one of the most unequivocal cases of moral feeling..."   (Chapter I. Introductory.)

The only case in which total liberty of opinions exists effectively is that of freedom of religion. In many ways, it should be taken as an example, especially because it shows us how stubborn individuals can be in their beliefs. We see this in the heated debates that arise around religion.

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" To an ordinary man, however, his own preference, thus supported, is not only a perfectly satisfactory reason, but the only one he generally has for any of his notions of morality, taste, or propriety, which are not expressly written in his religious creed; and his chief guide in the interpretation even of that..."   (Chapter I. Introductory.)

Here Mill heavily criticizes a lack of thought in constructing moral frameworks. It might also be argued that he is criticizing religion here, suggesting that it lends itself to the acceptance of a moral framework that is not ones own.

 

 

Mill did not practice any religion and was an ardent critic of the institution. However, interestingly enough, in his essay on "The Utility of Religion," he argues that religion is effective in widely instituting a code of morality, though he also makes clear his belief that faith in a higher power is no longer required for this. (Source: Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy)

 

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"There is a limit to the legitimate interference of collective opinion with individual independence..."   (Chapter I. Introductory.)

That is, there are some personal liberties that even a democratic government cannot interfere with.

 

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"precautions are as much needed against this, as against any other abuse of power..."   (Chapter I. Introductory.)

There must be a system in place to protect minorities in democracies.

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"Their power was but the nation's own power, concentrated, and in a form convenient for exercise..."   (Chapter I. Introductory.)

The power of rulers should represent the power of the people.

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"To the first of these modes of limitation, the ruling power, in most European countries, was compelled, more or less, to submit..."   (Chapter I. Introductory.)

In other words, European rulers were kept in check by social uprisings.

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"But as the king of the vultures would be no less bent upon preying on the flock than any of the minor harpies, it was indispensable to be in a perpetual attitude of defence against his beak and claws..."   (Chapter I. Introductory.)

Mill employs metaphors in this passage to emphasize his points: Because the ruler was often just as corrupt as other members of the community (i.e. those whose corruption he was supposed to keep in check), citizens were on constant guard against the government.

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"To prevent the weaker members of the community from being preyed upon by innumerable vultures, it was needful that there should be an animal of prey stronger than the rest, commissioned to keep them down..."   (Chapter I. Introductory.)

Governmental authorities were established in order to maintain social stability and order.

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"the stage of progress into which the more civilised portions of the species have now entered..."   (Chapter I. Introductory.)

Democracy. This is perhaps a direct reference to the rise of democracy in the United States, which Mill later discusses.

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