Q0082
“The only freedom which deserves the name is that of pursuing our…” — John Stuart Mill (On Liberty)
Verified English quotation. Primary source: On Liberty. Theme: limits.
English
The only freedom which deserves the name is that of pursuing our own good in our own way, so long as we do not attempt to deprive others of theirs.
Source and attribution
The archive attributes this English wording to On Liberty and files it under Utilitarianism. That locator distinguishes the passage from loose internet attributions: readers can return to the named work or section to check translation, surrounding argument, and edition-specific wording.
About John Stuart Mill
John Stuart Mill (1806–1873) refined utilitarianism and authored On Liberty, a classic defense of individuality against social and political tyranny.
Interpretation
Mill's harm principle sets the boundary of legitimate interference with a person. His claim in On Liberty is that power may be exercised over someone against their will only to prevent harm to others — their own good is not a sufficient reason. The argument rests on the claim that the individual is ordinarily the best judge of their own interests, and that error corrected by experience teaches in a way compulsion does not. It is a principle about the limits of coercion, not about the value of the behaviour.
Why it matters
It forces a specific question whenever interference is proposed: whose harm, and how would you know? Most proposed restrictions fail to answer it.
Concepts in this quote
- Limits
- Limits appears in this archive as a live philosophical concern—not a slogan. These verified English passages show how thinkers treat limits as a problem of judgment, practice, or explanation.
How to cite this quotation
APA: John Stuart Mill. (n.d.). The only freedom which deserves the name is that of pursuing our own good in our own way, so long as we do not attempt to deprive others of theirs. In Philosophy Blind Box. https://www.philosophydef.com/quotes/q0082
MLA: John Stuart Mill. “The only freedom which deserves the name is….” Philosophy Blind Box, https://www.philosophydef.com/quotes/q0082.
Chicago: John Stuart Mill. “The only freedom which deserves the name is….” Philosophy Blind Box. Accessed 2026. https://www.philosophydef.com/quotes/q0082.
Frequently asked questions
What is the source of the quotation “The only freedom which deserves the name is…”?
The passage is attributed to John Stuart Mill, On Liberty. The archive attributes this English wording to On Liberty and files it under Utilitarianism. That locator distinguishes the passage from loose internet attributions: readers can return to the named work or section to check translation, surrounding argument, and edition-specific wording.
What does John Stuart Mill mean by limits?
Across 4 recurring voices here (notably Ludwig Wittgenstein and John Stuart Mill), limits is framed through Analytic Philosophy and Utilitarianism. Some passages define limits; others warn how it fails; still others relocate it inside habit, community, or language. This passage enters that discussion through limits.