On Compromise |
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Common terms and phrases
accept acquiescence age of Pericles answer assent belief better categorical proposition catholic character Christian Church civilised compromise conduct conformity conservatism conviction creed Demosthenes direction discussion dissent ditions doctrine of liberty dogma duty Edict of Nantes effect egoism elements England erroneous error evil existing expedient expression fact faith false opinion feel force forms freethinker habits hold human ideas important improvement indolence influence institutions intel intellectual responsibility interest kind latitudinarian least less limits living logical majority marriage matter means ment merely Mill's mind moral motive natural ness object ogous persons plea political spirit position possible practical prejudices present principle propositions protestantism question realise reason religion religious respect rest Roman Republic self-respect sense sentiment silence slavery society speculative superstition suppose sure syllogism theology theory things thought tion tolerance tractarian true opinions truth virtue Voltaire whole
Popular passages
Page 209 - ... the sole end for which mankind are warranted individually or collectively in interfering with the liberty of action of any of their number is self-protection ; that 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 a sufficient warrant.
Page 173 - All government, indeed every human benefit and enjoyment, every virtue, and every prudent act, is founded on compromise and barter. We balance inconveniences, we give and take, we remit some rights that we may enjoy others, and we choose rather to be happy citizens than subtle disputants.
Page 204 - And not consider this, that if it come to prohibiting, there is not aught more likely to be prohibited than truth itself; whose first appearance to our eyes, bleared and dimmed with prejudice and custom, is more unsightly and unplausible than many errors, even as the person is of many a great man slight and contemptible to see to.
Page 209 - He cannot rightfully be compelled to do or forbear because it will be better for him to do so, because it will make him happier, because, in the opinion of others, to do so would be wise, or even right.
Page 204 - That virtue therefore which is but a youngling in the contemplation of evil, and knows not the utmost that vice promises to her followers, and rejects it, is but a blank virtue, not a pure...
Page 193 - Banish all objects of lust, shut up all youth into the severest discipline that can be exercised in any hermitage, ye cannot make them chaste, that came not thither so : such great care and wisdom is required to the right managing of this point.
Page 207 - Lastly, those are not at all to be tolerated who deny the being of God. Promises, covenants, and oaths, which are the bonds of human society, can have no hold upon an atheist. The taking away of God, though but even in thought, dissolves all.
Page 193 - And were I the chooser, a dram of well-doing should be preferred before many times as much the forcible hindrance of evil-doing. For God sure esteems the growth and completing of one virtuous person more than the restraint of ten vicious.
Page 173 - It is not fair to judge of the temper or dispositions of any man, or any set of men, when they are composed and at rest, from their conduct or their expressions in a state of disturbance and irritation. It is besides a very great mistake to imagine 'that mankind follow up practically any speculative .principle, either of government or of freedom, as far as it will go in argument and logical illation.
Page 204 - ... our sage and serious poet Spenser, whom I dare be known to think a better teacher than Scotus or Aquinas...