As for charity, it is a matter in which the immediate effect on the persons directly concerned, and the ultimate consequence to the general good, are apt to be at complete war with one another.
John Stuart MillRead
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.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Silencing opinions robs both current and future generations of the truth, regardless of the opinion's validity.
In this quote, John Stuart Mill argues that suppressing dissenting opinions is detrimental to society as a whole. He emphasizes that the exchange of ideas, whether right or wrong, enriches our understanding and helps clarify the truth. By stifling debate, we not only deny the present generation the opportunity to learn from differing views, but we also inhibit future generations from benefiting from the insights that such discussions could yield.
Themes
SilencingOpinionTruthDebateKnowledge
In practice
Example use cases
During a panel discussion on freedom of speech, one could highlight Mill's thoughts to emphasize the importance of diverse opinions.
More from John Stuart Mill
All quotes βTo think that because those who wield power in society wield in the end that of government, therefore it is of no use to attempt to influence the constitution of the government by acting on opinion, is to forget that opinion is itself one of the greatest active social forces. One person with a belief is a social power equal to ninety-nine who have only interests.
John Stuart MillRead
There should be perfect freedom, legal and social, to do the action and stand the consequences. It would be a great misunderstanding of this doctrine to suppose that it is one of selfish indifference, which pretends that human beings have no business with each other's conduct in life, and that they should not concern themselves about the well-doing or well-being of one another, unless their own interest is involved.
John Stuart MillRead
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.
John Stuart MillRead
Marriage is the only actual bondage known to our law. There remain no legal slaves, except the mistress of every house.
John Stuart MillRead
Persons of genius are, ex vi termini, more individual than any other people - less capable, consequently, of fitting themselves, without hurtful compression, into any of the small number of moulds which society provides in order to save its members the trouble of forming their character.
John Stuart MillRead
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