The individual is not accountable to society for his actions in so far as these concern the interests of no person but himself.

The peculiar evil of silencing the expression of an opinion is, that it is robbing the human race; posterity as well as the existing generation; those who dissent from the opinion, still more than those who hold it. If the opinion is right, they are deprived of the opportunity of exchanging error for truth: if wrong, they lose, what is almost as great a benefit, the clearer perception and livelier impression of truth, produced by its collision with error.

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

The general tendency of things throughout the world is to render mediocrity the ascendant power among mankind.

Actions are right in proportion as they tend to promote happiness; wrong as they tend to produce the reverse of happiness. By happiness is intended pleasure and the absence of pain.

It is given to no human being to stereotype a set of truths, and walk safely by their guidance with his mind's eye closed.

Experience has taught me that those who give their time to the absorbing claims of what is called society, not having leisure to keep up a large acquaintance with the organs of opinion, remain much more ignorant of the general state either of the public mind, or of the active and instructed part of it, than a recluse who reads the newspapers need be.