Wisdom worth sharing, words worth remembering.
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.
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.
Popular opinions on subjects not palpable to sense are often true but seldom or never the whole truth.
It is questionable if all the mechanical inventions yet made have lightened the day's toil of any human being.
The only part of the conduct of any one for which he is amenable to society is that which concerns others. In the part which merely concerns himself his independence is of right absolute. Over himself over his own body and mind the individual is sovereign.
The individual is not accountable to society for his actions in so far as these concern the interests of no person but himself.
The only power deserving the name is that of masses and of governments while they make themselves the organ of the tendencies and instincts of masses.
The general tendency of things throughout the world is to render mediocrity the ascendant power among mankind.
The only purpose for which power can be rightfully exercised over any member of a civilized community against his will is to prevent harm to others. His own good either physical or moral is not sufficient warrant.
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.
Conservatives are not necessarily stupid but most stupid people are conservatives.
The duty of man is the same in respect to his own nature as in respect to the nature of all other things namely not to follow it but to amend it.
