# On Liberty

**Author:** John Mill
**Tags:** Liberty
**Price:** Free
**Formats:** DOCX, EPUB, FB2, PDF, TXT
**Downloads:** 29
**Added:** 10.07.2026
**URL:** https://samolit.com/books/95848

## Description

First published in 1859, this landmark work of political philosophy remains one of the most influential defenses of individual freedom ever written. John Stuart Mill sets out to determine the proper boundary between the authority of society and the independence of the individual, arguing that the only justification for interfering with a person's liberty is to prevent harm to others. Through carefully reasoned chapters on freedom of thought and discussion, individuality, and the limits of social control, Mill warns against the quiet tyranny of majority opinion and custom, insisting that even unpopular or mistaken ideas deserve a hearing, since open debate is essential to discovering and preserving truth. He champions eccentricity and diversity of character as vital to human progress, cautioning that conformity stifles genius and vitality. Written with clarity and moral urgency, this essay applies utilitarian reasoning to questions of law, morality, and government, offering arguments that continue to shape modern debates over free speech, personal autonomy, and the proper reach of the state. A foundational text for anyone interested in liberalism, civil liberties, and the enduring tension between society and the self.