Create all the happiness you are able to create; remove all the misery you are able to remove. Every day will allow you, --will invite you to add something to the pleasure of others, --or to diminish something of their pains.
Jeremy BenthamRead
He who thinks and thinks for himself, will always have a claim to thanks; it is no matter whether it be right or wrong, so as it be explicit. If it is right, it will serve as a guide to direct; if wrong, as a beacon to warn.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Independent thinking is valuable regardless of whether the conclusion is right or wrong.
This quote by Jeremy Bentham emphasizes the importance of critical thinking and the value of forming one's own opinions. Whether one arrives at a correct understanding or makes a mistake, the act of thinking independently yields benefits: it can guide others or serve as a warning against false beliefs.
Themes
ThinkingIndependenceWisdomGuidanceCritical
In practice
Example use cases
During a motivational speech about the importance of self-reliance and thinking for oneself.
More from Jeremy Bentham
All quotes →Nature has placed mankind under the government of two sovereign masters, pain and pleasure... they govern us in all we do, in all we say, in all we think: every effort we can make to throw off our subjection, will serve but to demonstrate and confirm it.
Jeremy BenthamRead
Nature has placed mankind under the governance of two sovereign masters, pain and pleasure. It is for them alone to point out what we ought to do, as well as to determine what we shall do.
Jeremy BenthamRead
It is the greatest good to the greatest number of people which is the measure of right and wrong.
Jeremy BenthamRead
Tyranny and anarchy are never far apart.
Jeremy BenthamRead
Without publicity, no good is permanent; under the auspices of publicity, no evil can continue.
Jeremy BenthamRead
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