Hope Quote by John Stuart Mill
““Every function superadded to those already exercised by the government causes its influence over hopes and fears to be more widely diffused, and converts, more and more, the active and ambitious part of the public into hangers-on of the government, or of some party which aim, at becoming the government.””
About This Quote
Source Essay: On Liberty, 1859
Government expansion of influence spreads fear and hope, turning active citizens into dependent followers of authority.
In simple terms: More government control makes people more dependent on it.
Key Takeaway
Guard against over‑reliance on authority.
Themes
politics
freedom
power
society
Mood
cautious
critical
Type
philosophical
political
When to use this quote
- voting decisions
- community organizing
- media consumption
- policy advocacy
Key Concepts
authority
public opinion
civil liberty
Questions to Reflect On
- How does personal autonomy protect against governmental overreach?
- What role should citizens play in limiting state influence?
A Different Perspective
Too much regulation can stifle individual initiative and dissent.
![“[F]or the nature of government is to become a thing apart, an institution existing for its own sake, preying upon the people, and teaching whatever will tend to keep it secure in its seat.” quote by Voltairine de Cleyre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/e9e/voltairine-de-cleyre-13597_nature_f-or-the-nature-of-government-is-to-beco_2703218.jpg)
![“[For people] to refuse a hearing to an opinion, because they are sure that it is false, is to assume that their certainty is the same thing as absolute certainty. All silencing of discussion is an assumption of infallibility.” quote by John Stuart Mill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/c53/john-stuart-mill-477_doubt_for-people-to-refuse-a-hearing-to-an-opi_63929.jpg)
