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Quotation from On Liberty by John Stuart Mill
“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”
On Liberty, Ch. II, Of the Liberty of Thought and Discussion
Mill opens the case for free expression with a deliberately extreme numerical contrast.
Citation: "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, On Liberty, Ch. II, Of the Liberty of Thought and Discussion. (id on-liberty-q4)
Portrait: John Stuart Mill by London Stereoscopic Company, c1870, London Stereoscopic Company, Public domain.
