The spirit of improvement is not always a spirit of liberty, for it may aim at forcing improvements on an unwilling people.

‎A general State education is a mere contrivance for moulding people to be exactly like one another; and as the mould in which it casts them is that which pleases the dominant power in the government, whether this be a monarch, an aristocracy, or a majority of the existing generation; in proportion as it is efficient and successful, it establishes a despotism over the mind, leading by a natural tendency to one over the body.

Political Economy, in truth, has never pretended to give advice to mankind with no lights but its own; though people who knew nothing but political economy (and therefore knew it ill) have taken upon themselves to advise, and could only do so by such lights as they had.

Judgement is given to men that they may use it. Because it may be used erroneously, are men to be told that they ought not to use it at all?

Trade is a social act.

Eloquence is heard; poetry is overheard ... All poetry is of the nature of the soliloquy.

If all mankind minus one were of one opinion, mankind would be no more justified in silencing that one person than he, if he had the power, would be justified in silencing mankind.