The principles which men profess on any controverted subject are usually a very incomplete exponent of the opinions they really hold.
Interpretation
People often express incomplete or misleading views on controversial topics, revealing only part of their true beliefs.
John Stuart Mill's quote suggests that the opinions people express on contentious issues rarely capture the full complexity of their true beliefs. In discussions about controversial topics, individuals may feel compelled to present a simplified version of their opinions, either due to social pressure or fear of disagreement, leading to a disconnect between what they state and what they genuinely think.
In practice
In a debate, this quote can remind participants to consider the underlying beliefs behind each other's arguments.
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.
Everyone must believe in something. I believe I'll go canoeing.
I know I was born and I know that I'll die... _x000D_ The in between is mine._x000D_ I Am Mine
Your idol is shattered in the dust to prove that God's dust is greater than your idol.
Because in some men it is in them to give up everything personal at some time, before it ferments and poisons--throw it to some human being or some human idea. They have to.
Your face is a book, where men may read strange matters.
With about a dozen assorted ongoing conflicts in the news every day, and with the stories becoming more horrific, the level of sadness becomes unbearable. And what becomes of our planet when that sadness becomes apathy? Because we feel helpless. And we turn our heads and turn the page.
Subscribe for the occasional hand-picked quote. No noise.