Quotes from John Stuart Mill's books, and about them
On Liberty on Système de politique positive: “M. Comte, in particular, whose social system, as unfolded in his Traité de Politique Positive, aims at establishing (though by moral more than by legal appliances) a despotism of society over the individual, surpassing anything contemplated in the political ideal of the most rigid disciplinarian among the ancient philosophers.”
On Liberty on Apology: “Impiety, in denying the gods recognised by the State; indeed his accuser asserted (see the "Apologia") that he believed in no gods at all.”
On Liberty on The Sphere and Duties of Government: “Few persons, out of Germany, even comprehend the meaning of the doctrine which Wilhelm von Humboldt, so eminent both as a savant and as a politician, made the text of a treatise… [11] The Sphere and Duties of Government, from the German of Baron Wilhelm von Humboldt, pp. 11-13.”
On Liberty on Essays and Tales: “"Pagan self-assertion" is one of the elements of human worth, as well as "Christian self-denial."[12] … [12] Sterling's Essays.”
Utilitarianism on The Annals of the Parish: “The author of this essay has reason for believing himself to be the first person who brought the word utilitarian into use. He did not invent it, but adopted it from a passing expression in Mr. Galt's Annals of the Parish. After using it as a designation for several years, he and others abandoned it from a growing dislike to anything…”
Utilitarianism on Système de politique positive: “To any ethical student who finds the realization difficult, I recommend, as a means of facilitating it, the second of M. Comte's two principal works, the Systeme de Politique Positive. I entertain the strongest objections to the system of politics and morals set forth in that treatise;”
Utilitarianism on Social Statics: “This implication, in the first principle of the utilitarian scheme, of perfect impartiality between persons, is regarded by Mr. Herbert Spencer (in his Social Statics) as a disproof of the pretentions of utility to be a sufficient guide to right; since (he says) the principle of utility presupposes the anterior principle, that everybody…”
The Righteous Mind on On Liberty: “The patron saint of a contractual society is John Stuart Mill, who wrote (in On Liberty) that "the only purpose for which power”
The Iron Heel on On Liberty: “* Before Avis Everhard was born, John Stuart Mill, in his essay, ON LIBERTY, wrote: "Wherever there is an ascendant class, a large portion of the morality emanates from its class interests and its class feelings of superiority."”