"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."

Politics

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Thematic Reflection

This quotation examines the core nature of Politics as articulated by John Stuart Mill. Within historical and literary traditions, reflections on Politics provide actionable mental models, challenging individuals to evaluate personal ethics, self-discipline, and daily actions.

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About John Stuart Mill

John Stuart Mill was an English philosopher, political economist, and politician. He was a paradigmatic philosopher of liberalism and has been described as "the most influential English-speaking philosopher of the nineteenth century" by the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy. He conceived of liberty as justifying the freedom of the individual in opposition to unlimited state and social control, and formulated the Harm principle. He also advocated proportional representation, the emancipation of women, and the development of labour organisations and farm cooperatives, and has been classified as both a classical liberal and social liberal.

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More by John Stuart Mill

"The individual is not accountable to society for his actions in so far as these concern the interests of no person but himself."

— John Stuart Mill
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"The only freedom which deserves the name is that of pursuing our own good, in our own way, so long as we do not attempt to deprive others of theirs, or impede their efforts to obtain it."

— John Stuart Mill
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"War is an ugly thing, but not the ugliest of things. The decayed and degraded state of moral and patriotic feeling which thinks that nothing is worth war is much worse."

— John Stuart Mill
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"If all mankind minus one were of one opinion, mankind would be no more justified in silencing that one person than he, if he had the power, would be justified in silencing mankind."

— John Stuart Mill
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More about Politics

"The tapestry of existence shows us that a mind at peace can weather any storm."

— Jennifer Belle
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"As soon as the land of any country has all become private property, the landlords, like all other men, love to reap where they never sowed, and demand a rent even for its natural produce."

— Adam Smith
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"To speak the truth in a season of deceit is an act of supreme bravery. For where clarity resides, peace inevitably follows — an essential principle for the reflective life."

— Linda Barlow
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"People didn't have the political guts to stand up against an American war."

— George McGovern
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