Whatever crushes individuality is despotism, by whatever name it may be called and whether it professes to be enforcing the will of God or the injunctions of men.
Interpretation
The quote emphasizes that any force diminishing individuality is a form of tyranny, regardless of its claimed justification.
John Stuart Mill argues that despotism manifests itself in various forms, and it fundamentally undermines individuality. Whether it is labeled as religious or societal authority, any attempt to suppress personal expression and autonomy is a violation of individual rights and freedoms. The essence of this quote lies in the importance of protecting individual thought and identity against oppressive forces.
In practice
In a speech about human rights, one might use this quote to underscore the importance of individuality.
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.
There is no doubt that the world economy is in trouble. But if governments or individuals use this as an excuse to reduce assistance to the world's poorest people, they will only multiply the seriousness of the problem for the world as a whole.
Of the past 3,400 years, humans have been entirely at peace for 268 of them, or just 8 percent of recorded history.
To live in the Great Way is neither easy nor difficult, but those with limited views are fearful and irresolute: the faster they hurry, the slower they go, and clinging cannot be limited: even to be attached to the idea of enlightenment is to go astray. Just let things be in their own way and there will be neither coming nor going. Obey the nature of things (your own nature), and you will walk freely and undisturbed.
So long ago, was it in a dream, was it just a dream?
We crave support in vanity, as we do in religion, and never forgive contradictions in that sphere.
We have to state, without mincing words, that there is an inseparable bond between our faith and the poor. May we never abandon them.
Subscribe for the occasional hand-picked quote. No noise.