John Stuart Mill Quotations | Page 2

Of two pleasures, if there be one which all or almost all who have experience of both give a decided preference, irrespective of any feeling of moral obligation to prefer it, that is the more desirable pleasure.

All acts suppose certain dispositions, and habits of mind and heart, which may be in themselves states of enjoyment or of wretchedness, and which must be fruitful in other consequences besides those particular acts.

The average condition of the people improving or deteriorating, depends upon whether population is advancing faster than improvement, or improvement than population.

The sole evidence it is possible to produce that anything is desirable, is that people do actually desire it.

Since the state must necessarily provide subsistence for the criminal poor while undergoing punishment, not to do the same for the poor who have not offended is to give a premium on crime.

There is always need of persons not only to discover new truths, and point out when what were once truths are true no longer, but also to commence new practices, and set the example of more enlightened conduct, and better taste and sense in human life.

Over one's mind and over one's body the individual is sovereign.

That so few now dare to be eccentric, marks the chief danger of the time.

Pleasure and freedom from pain, are the only things desirable as ends.

The duty of man is the same in respect to his own nature as in respect to the nature of all other things, namely not to follow it but to amend it.