A state which dwarfs its men, in order that they may be more docile instruments in its hands even for beneficial purposes--will find that with small men no great thing can really be accomplished. John Stuart Mill More Quotes by John Stuart Mill More Quotes From John Stuart Mill To understand one woman is not necessarily to understand any other woman. John Stuart Mill one-woman understanding What citizens of a free country would listen to any offers of good and skillful administration in return for the abdication of freedom? John Stuart Mill citizens liberty country The most important thing women have to do is to stir up the zeal of women themselves. John Stuart Mill zeal feminism important Is there any moral enormity which might not be justified by imitation of such a Deity? John Stuart Mill deities might religion God is a word to express, not our ideas, but the want of them. John Stuart Mill atheist ideas religion So true is that unnatural generally means only uncustomary, and that everything which is usual appears natural. John Stuart Mill usual natural mean The laws and conditions of the production of wealth partake of the character of physical truths. There is nothing optional or arbitrary in them ... It is not so with the Distribution of Wealth. That is a matter of human institution solely. The things once there, mankind, individually or collectively, can do with them as they like. John Stuart Mill truth character science Whether moral and social phenomena are really exceptions to the general certainty and uniformity of the course of nature; and how far the methods, by which so many of the laws of the physical world have been numbered among truths irrevocably acquired and universally assented to, can be made instrumental to the gradual formation of a similar body of received doctrine in moral and political science. John Stuart Mill nature law science Both teachers and learners go to sleep at their post as soon as there is no enemy in the field. John Stuart Mill sleep teacher enemy War is an ugly thing, but not the ugliest of things: the decayed and degraded state of moral and patriotic feeling which thinks nothing worth a war, is worse. A war to protect other human beings against tyrannical injustice; a war to give victory to their own ideas of right and good, and which is their own war, carried on for an honest purpose by their own free choice - is often the means of their regeneration. John Stuart Mill patriotic war mean Marriage is the only actual bondage known to our law. There remain no legal slaves, except the mistress of every house. John Stuart Mill marriage law house Any participation, even in the smallest public function, is useful. John Stuart Mill participation function government Money is a machine for doing quickly and commodiously what would be done, though less quickly and commodiously, without it. John Stuart Mill machines done would-be The peculiarity of the evidence of mathematical truths is that all the argument is on one side. John Stuart Mill argument truth-is sides Customs are made for customary circumstances, and customary characters. John Stuart Mill circumstances made character [I] put the question directly to myself: "Suppose that all your objects in life were realized; that all the changes in institutions and opinions which you are looking forward to, could be completely effected at this very instant: would this be a great joy and happiness to you?" And an irrepressible self-consciousness distinctly answered, "No! John Stuart Mill opinion self joy The maxim is, that whatever can be affirmed (or denied) of a class, may be affirmed (or denied) of everything included in the class. This axiom, supposed to be the basis of the syllogistic theory, is termed by logicians the dictum de omni et nullo. John Stuart Mill nomenclature class science The test of real and vigorous thinking, the thinking which ascertains truths instead of dreaming dreams, is successful application to practice. John Stuart Mill real successful dream The habit of analysis has a tendency to wear away the feelings. John Stuart Mill analysis math feelings That so few now dare to be eccentric, marks the chief danger of the time. John Stuart Mill work success time