In the employment of labour and machinery, it is often found that the effects can be increased by skilful distribution, by separating all those operations which have any tendency to impede one another, and by bringing together all those operations which can be made in any way to aid one another.
—James Mill
This habit of forming opinions, and acting upon them without evidence, is one of the most immoral habits of the mind. … As our opinions are the fathers of our actions, to be indifferent about the evidence of our opinions is to be indifferent about the consequences of our actions. But the consequences of our actions are the good and evil of our fellow-creatures. The habit of the neglect of evidence, therefore, is the habit of disregarding the good and evil of our fellow-creatures.
—James Mill
No good government can ever want more than two things for its support: 1st, Its own excellence; and, 2dly, a people sufficiently instructed, to be aware of that excellence. Every other pretended support, must ultimately tend to its subversion, by lessening its dependence upon these.
—James Mill
Wondering Whom to Read Next?
Thomas Carlyle Scottish Historian, Essayist
David Hume Scottish Philosopher, Historian
Hugh Blair Scottish Minister, Scholar
John Stuart Mill English Philosopher, Economist
Adam Smith Scottish Philosopher
Walter Scott Scottish Novelist
Jeremy Bentham British Philosopher, Economist
John Neal American Author, Critic
Auguste Comte French Philosopher
Francis Jeffrey, Lord Jeffrey Scottish Judge, Critic