All that makes existence valuable to any one depends on the enforcement of restraints upon the actions of other people

All that makes existence valuable to any one depends on the enforcement of restraints upon the actions of other people

John Stuart Mill, a prominent philosopher and political economist of the 19th century, believed in the importance of individual liberty and the enforcement of restraints on the actions of others in order to protect that liberty. In his seminal work, "On Liberty," Mill argues that the only legitimate reason for society to interfere with an individual's freedom is to prevent harm to others. He believed that individuals should be free to pursue their own interests and desires as long as they do not harm others in the process.

Mill's assertion that "all that makes existence valuable to any one depends on the enforcement of restraints upon the actions of other people" can be understood in the context of his broader philosophy of utilitarianism. Utilitarianism is the ethical theory that the best action is the one that maximizes overall happiness or pleasure. In order to achieve this goal, Mill believed that individuals must be free to make their own choices and pursue their own happiness, as long as they do not infringe upon the rights and freedoms of others.