Q0268

“He who knows only his own side of the case, knows little…” — John Stuart Mill (On Liberty II)

Verified English quotation. Primary source: On Liberty II. Theme: language.

English

He who knows only his own side of the case, knows little of that.
Thinker John Stuart Mill
School Political Liberalism
Source On Liberty II
Theme Language
Another quotation More from this thinker

Source and attribution

The archive attributes this English wording to On Liberty II and files it under Political Liberalism. 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.

How to read this passage

Across 4 recurring voices here (notably Ludwig Wittgenstein and Kwasi Wiredu), language is framed through Analytic Philosophy and Africana Philosophy. Some passages define language; others warn how it fails; still others relocate it inside habit, community, or language. This passage enters that discussion through language, knowledge.

Concepts in this quote

Language
Language appears in this archive as a live philosophical concern—not a slogan. These verified English passages show how thinkers treat language as a problem of judgment, practice, or explanation.
Knowledge
Knowledge is the philosophical study of what we can justifiably claim to know—and where certainty ends.

How to cite this quotation

APA: John Stuart Mill. (n.d.). He who knows only his own side of the case, knows little of that. In Philosophy Blind Box. https://www.philosophydef.com/quotes/q0268

MLA: John Stuart Mill. “He who knows only his own side of….” Philosophy Blind Box, https://www.philosophydef.com/quotes/q0268.

Chicago: John Stuart Mill. “He who knows only his own side of….” Philosophy Blind Box. Accessed 2026. https://www.philosophydef.com/quotes/q0268.

Frequently asked questions

What is the source of the quotation “He who knows only his own side of…”?

The passage is attributed to John Stuart Mill, On Liberty II. The archive attributes this English wording to On Liberty II and files it under Political Liberalism. 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 language?

Across 4 recurring voices here (notably Ludwig Wittgenstein and Kwasi Wiredu), language is framed through Analytic Philosophy and Africana Philosophy. Some passages define language; others warn how it fails; still others relocate it inside habit, community, or language. This passage enters that discussion through language, knowledge.

Same thinker

More from John Stuart Mill

  1. 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.
  2. It is better to be a human being dissatisfied than a pig satisfied; better to be Socrates dissatisfied than a fool satisfied.
  3. 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.
  4. It is better to be a human being dissatisfied than a pig satisfied.
  5. Over himself, over his own body and mind, the individual is sovereign.

All quotations by John Stuart Mill

Same theme

More on language

  1. Whereof one cannot speak, thereof one must be silent.
  2. What we do is to bring words back from their metaphysical to their everyday use.
  3. The limits of my language mean the limits of my world.
  4. The meaning of a word is its use in the language.
  5. I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it.

Browse the language theme