I will call no being good who is not what I mean when I apply that epithet to my fellow creatures; and if such a creature can sentence me to hell for not so calling him, to hell I will go .
Interpretation
The quote emphasizes the importance of personal integrity and moral standards over societal judgment.
In this quote, John Stuart Mill asserts that goodness is a subjective label that should align with one's personal understanding and values rather than the impositions of others. He indicates that he would refuse to label a being as good if their definition contradicts his moral perspective, even if that results in dire consequences, such as condemnation to hell. Mill champions the importance of individual morals and the courage to stand by one's principles in the face of external pressure.
In practice
During a philosophical discussion about ethics, I might use this quote to illustrate the importance of personal moral standards.
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.
Neurosis is the natural by-product of pain avoidance.
Absolutely speaking, Do unto others as you would that they should do unto you is by no means a golden rule, but the best of current silver. An honest man would have but little occasion for it. It is golden not to have any rule at all in such a case.
If you can let go of (the Tao) with your mind and surround it with your heart, it will live inside you forever.
The spectacle is at the same time the mirage of self in the mirror of things.
What do I think of Western civilization? I think it would be a very good idea.
All service ranks the same with God,- With God, whose puppets, best and worst, Are we: there is no last nor first.
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