The Quotes canon
Sourced and curated.
Every quote has been curated by hand and carefully authenticated.
Browse all 10,075 quotes or apply filters in different categories to narrow your search.
Browse all 10,075 quotes or apply filters in different categories to narrow your search.
Moral theory3 quotes
All inequality that has no special utility to justify it is injustice. — Jeremy Bentham · 1795It is the greatest happiness of the greatest number that is the measure of right and wrong. — Jeremy Bentham · 1776The greatest happiness of the greatest number is the foundation of morals and legislation. — Jeremy Bentham · 1832Political theory2 quotes
The greatest happiness of the greatest number is the foundation of morals and legislation. — Jeremy Bentham · 1832I do really take it for an indisputable truth, and a truth that is one of the corner stones of political science—the more strictly we are watched, the better we behave. — Jeremy Bentham · 1797Politics2 quotes
The greatest happiness of the greatest number is the foundation of morals and legislation. — Jeremy Bentham · 1832I do really take it for an indisputable truth, and a truth that is one of the corner stones of political science—the more strictly we are watched, the better we behave. — Jeremy Bentham · 1797Utilitarianism2 quotes
It is the greatest happiness of the greatest number that is the measure of right and wrong. — Jeremy Bentham · 1776The greatest happiness of the greatest number is the foundation of morals and legislation. — Jeremy Bentham · 1832Censorship1 quote
As to the evil which results from a censorship, it is impossible to measure it, because it is impossible to tell where it ends. — Jeremy Bentham · 1832Class conflict1 quote
He rather hated the ruling few than loved the suffering many. — Jeremy Bentham · 1849Economic inequality1 quote
All inequality that has no special utility to justify it is injustice. — Jeremy Bentham · 1795Freedom1 quote
Every law is contrary to liberty. — Jeremy Bentham · 1832Freedom of the press1 quote
Publicity is the very soul of justice. It is the keenest spur to exertion, and the surest of all guards against improbity. — Jeremy Bentham · 1832Human rights1 quote
Natural rights is simple nonsense: natural and imprescriptible rights, rhetorical nonsense,—nonsense upon stilts. — Jeremy Bentham · 1832Inequality1 quote
All inequality that has no special utility to justify it is injustice. — Jeremy Bentham · 1795Law1 quote
Every law is contrary to liberty. — Jeremy Bentham · 1832Man and animals1 quote
A full-grown horse or dog is beyond comparison a more rational, as well as a more conversable animal, than an infant of a day, or a week, or even a month old. But suppose the case were otherwise, what would it avail? The question is not, Can they reason? nor, Can they talk? but, Can they suffer? — Jeremy Bentham · 1789Morality1 quote
The greatest happiness of the greatest number is the foundation of morals and legislation. — Jeremy Bentham · 1832Natural law1 quote
Natural rights is simple nonsense: natural and imprescriptible rights, rhetorical nonsense,—nonsense upon stilts. — Jeremy Bentham · 1832Pleasure and pain1 quote
Nature has placed mankind under the governance of two sovereign masters, pain and pleasure. It is for them alone to point out what we ought to do, as well as to determine what we shall do. — Jeremy Bentham · 1789Publicity1 quote
Publicity is the very soul of justice. It is the keenest spur to exertion, and the surest of all guards against improbity. — Jeremy Bentham · 1832Punishment1 quote
All punishment is mischief: all punishment in itself is evil. — Jeremy Bentham · 1789Ruling class1 quote
He rather hated the ruling few than loved the suffering many. — Jeremy Bentham · 1849Suffering of animals1 quote
A full-grown horse or dog is beyond comparison a more rational, as well as a more conversable animal, than an infant of a day, or a week, or even a month old. But suppose the case were otherwise, what would it avail? The question is not, Can they reason? nor, Can they talk? but, Can they suffer? — Jeremy Bentham · 1789Surveillance1 quote
I do really take it for an indisputable truth, and a truth that is one of the corner stones of political science—the more strictly we are watched, the better we behave. — Jeremy Bentham · 1797Working class1 quote
He rather hated the ruling few than loved the suffering many. — Jeremy Bentham · 1849