Whatever crushes individuality is despotism.
Interpretation
The quote emphasizes the importance of individuality and warns against oppression.
John Stuart Mill's quote highlights how the suppression of individual thought and expression represents a form of tyranny known as despotism. It suggests that true freedom and progress in society can only be achieved when individuals are allowed to express their unique identities and ideas without fear of repression.
In practice
In a speech about human rights, you might say, 'Remember, whatever crushes individuality is despotism.'
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.
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.
To 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.
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.
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.
Marriage is the only actual bondage known to our law. There remain no legal slaves, except the mistress of every house.
Slowly light strengthens, and the room takes shape. It stands plain as a wardrobe, what we know, Have always known, know that we can't escape, Yet can't accept. One side will have to go. Meanwhile telephones crouch, getting ready to ring In locked-up offices, and all the uncaring Intricate rented world begins to rouse. The sky is white as clay, with no sun. Work has to be done. Postmen like doctors go from house to house.
In my afternoon walk I would fain forget all my morning occupations and my obligations to society.
Those are weaklings who know the truth and uphold it as long as it suits their purpose, and then abandon it.
America in particular imposes an horrendous burden on the world. We have this wonderful standard of living but it comes at enormous cost.
We become aware of the void as we fill it.
All life is part of a complex relationship in which each is dependent upon the others, taking from, giving to and living with all the rest.
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