March 5, 2025

If all mankind minus one were of one opinion, and only one person were of the contrary 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 (1806–1873), English philosopher and economist, On Liberty (1859), Jay p.258

How readily do you entertain opinions contrary to your own? Entertain, not necessarily accept without consideration. If compromise is the essence of democratic governance, why is a contrary perspective—that someone else’s opinion is closer to the truth than yours—so distasteful? Or is truth unattainable?

As to be expected, Mill set the gold standard when it comes to liberty: a standard that is too often forgotten in the name of progress.