By John Mill
IV Of the limits of the authority of society over the individual
What is the rightful limit to the sovereignty of the individual over himself? Where does the authority of society begin?
Living in society renders it indispensable that each should be bound to observe a certain line of conduct towards the rest.
As a supplement to the unavoidable imperfections of law, ought not opinion at least to organize a powerful police against these vices, and visit rigidly with social penalties those who are known to practise them? There must be some length of time and amount of experience, after which a moral or prudential truth may be regarded as established.
Bring its weaker members up to its ordinary standard of ra tional conduct.
Public opinion means, at the best, SOME people's opinion of what is good or bad for other people; while very often it does not even mean that; the public, passing over the pleasure or convenience of those whose conduct they censure, and considering only their OWN preference.
Enormity, standard of judgement, extravagance, intemperance
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