“The duty of man is the same in respect to his own nature as in respect to the nature of all other things, namely not to follow it but to amend it.”
Tip: press → for another quote, C to copy, S to share.
The general tendency of things throughout the world is to render mediocrity the ascendant power among mankind.
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.
As for charity, it is a matter in which the immediate effect on the persons directly concerned, and the ultimate consequence to the general good, are apt to be at complete war with one another.
The person who has nothing for which he is willing to fight, nothing which is more important than his own personal safety, is a miserable creature and has no chance of being free unless made and kept so by the exertions of better men than himself.
