All that makes existence valuable to any one depends on the enforcement of restraints upon the actions of other people.

Protection, therefore, against the tyranny of the magistrate is not enough; there needs protection against the tyranny of the prevailing opinion and feeling, against the tendency of society to impose, by other means than civil penalties, its own ideas and practices as rules of conduct on those who dissent from them.

When the land is cultivated entirely by the spade and no horses are kept, a cow is kept for every three acres of land.

[I] put the question directly to myself: "Suppose that all your objects in life were realized; that all the changes in institutions and opinions which you are looking forward to, could be completely effected at this very instant: would this be a great joy and happiness to you?" And an irrepressible self-consciousness distinctly answered, "No!

The most cogent reason for restricting the interference of government is the great evil of adding unnecessarily to its power.

All good things which exist are the fruits of originality.

Among the facts of the universe to be accounted for, it may be said, is Mind; and it is self evident that nothing can have produced Mind but Mind.