---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I believe that the harm which Mill has…"
description: "\"I believe that the harm which Mill has done to the world by the passage in his book on Political Economy in which he favours the principle of Protectio..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9fc/richard-cobden-16480_believe_i-believe-that-the-harm-which-mill-has-d_2269767.jpg"
---

#  I believe that the harm which Mill has done to the world…

![“I believe that the harm which Mill has done to the world by the passage in his book on Political Economy in which he favours the principle of Protection in young communities, has outweighed all the good which may have been caused by his other writings.” quote by Richard Cobden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9fc/richard-cobden-16480_believe_i-believe-that-the-harm-which-mill-has-d_2269767.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9fc/richard-cobden-16480_believe_i-believe-that-the-harm-which-mill-has-d_2269767.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9fc/richard-cobden-16480_believe_i-believe-that-the-harm-which-mill-has-d_2269767.jpg)

> “I believe that the harm which Mill has done to the world by the passage in his book on Political Economy in which he favours the principle of Protection in young communities, has outweighed all the good which may have been caused by his other writings.”

[Richard Cobden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-cobden/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Cobden argues that Mill's advocacy for protectionism harmed young economies more than his other contributions helped.

**In simple terms:** Mill's protectionist ideas hurt young economies.

Key Takeaway

Beware of protectionist policies.

Themes

economics trade policy history impact

Mood

critical analytical

Type

historical political

When to use this quote

- government trade policy
- development aid
- industrial strategy
- education reform

Key Concepts

protectionism free trade economic development

Questions to Reflect On

- Should protectionism ever be used to nurture new industries?
- How can we balance short‑term protection with long‑term growth?

A Different Perspective

Protectionism may sometimes be justified for strategic reasons.

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