Quotes About Autonomy

Central authority is bad. The bias should be for freedom. And without a central authority, there are lots of little authorities, and we learn which ones to trust.

The individual is the best judge of what's right for the individual

Life is fairer when individuals are free to make their own decisions

In this age, the man who dares to think for himself and to act independently does a service to his race

Whatever crushes individuality is despotism, by whatever name it may be called.

The only part of the conduct of any one, for which he is amenable to society, is that which concerns others. In the part which merely concerns himself, his independence is, of right, absolute. Over himself, over his own body and mind, the individual is sovereign.

What ever crushes individuality is despotism, no matter what name it is called.

Mankind are greater gainers by suffering each other to live as seem good to themselves than by compelling each to live as seems good to the rest.

There have been, and may be again, great individual thinkers, in a general atmosphere of mental slavery.

liberty consists in doing what one desires

There is no reason that all human existence should be constructed on some one or some small number of patterns. [...] A man cannot get a coat or a pair of boots to fit him, unless they are either made to his measure, or he has a whole warehouseful to choose from: and is it easier to fit him with a life than with a coat, or are human beings more like one another in their whole physical and spiritual conformation than in the shape of their feet?

over himself, over his own body and mind, the individual is sovereign".

Over himself, over his own body and mind, the individual is sovereign.

the individual is not accountable to society for his actions, in so far as these concern the interests of no person but himself.

The principle of freedom cannot require that he should be free not to be free. It is not freedom, to be allowed to alienate his freedom. Nguyên lý tá»± do không th? quy ??nh anh ta ph?i ???c tá»± do hay không. Nó không bao g?m vi?c tá»± do chuy?n nh??ng quy?n tá»± do c?a mình.

Apart from the peculiar tenets of individual thinkers, there is also in the world at large an increasing inclination to stretch unduly the powers of society over the individual, both by the force of opinion and even by that of legislation:

The individual is not accountable to society for his actions, in so far as those concern the interests of no person but himself.

All errors which he is likely to commit against advice and warning, are far outweighed by the evil of allowing others to constrain him to what they deem his good.

Human nature is not a machine to be built after a model, and set to do exactly the work prescribed for it, but a tree, which requires to grow and develop itself on all sides, according to the tendency of the inward forces which make it a living thing. It

When I say only himself, I mean directly, and in the first instance: for whatever affects himself, may affect others through himself; and the objection which may be grounded on this contingency, will receive consideration in the sequel. This, then, is the appropriate region of human liberty.

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, or impede their efforts to obtain it. Each is the proper guardian of his own health, whether bodily, or mental or spiritual.

He who let's the world, or his own portion of it, choose his plan of life for him, has no need of any other faculty than the ape-like one of imitation

He cannot rightfully be compelled to do or forbear because it will be better for him to do so, because it will make him happier, because, in the opinions of others, to do so would be wise, or even right.

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 or impede their efforts to obtain it. Each is the proper guardian of his own health, whether bodily or mental and spiritual.