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On Liberty

John Stuart Mill

If all mankind minus one were of one 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.

Behind the line

What it means

Our interpretation.

Even if everyone else agreed, the writer argues, that wouldn't give them the right to silence the one dissenter, any more than that lone person would be right to silence everyone. It's a principle about protecting a single voice against overwhelming consensus.

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