WIST Quotations

Bentham, Jeremy -- “On Publicity,” The Works of Jeremy Bentham, vol 2, part 2 (1836)

Dave — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 14:11:28 +0000

Secrecy is an instrument of conspiracy; it ought not, therefore, to be the system of a regular government.

Jeremy Bentham (1748-1832) English jurist and philosopher
“On Publicity,” The Works of Jeremy Bentham, vol 2, part 2 (1836)

Full text.

Bentham, Jeremy -- “Principles of the Penal Code,” ch. 3, Theory of Legislation (1802)

Dave — Thu, 18 Mar 2021 20:32:51 +0000

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 (1748-1832) English jurist and philosopher
“Principles of the Penal Code,” ch. 3, Theory of Legislation (1802)
(Source)

Bentham, Jeremy -- An Introduction to the Principles of Morals and Legislation, ch. 17 “Of the Limits of the Penal Branch of Jurisprudence” (1789; 1823)

Dave — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 14:37:31 +0000

The day has been, I grieve to say in many places it is not yet past, in which the greater part of the species, under the denomination of slaves, have been treated by the law exactly upon the same footing as, in England for example, the inferior races of animals are still. The day may come when the rest of the animal creation may acquire those rights which never could have been withholden from them but by the hand of tyranny. The French have already discovered that the blackness of the skin is no reason why a human being should be abandoned without redress to the caprice of a tormentor. It may one day come to be recognized that the number of legs, the villosity of the skin, or the termination of the os sacrum are reasons equally insufficient for abandoning a sensitive being to the same fate. What else is it that should trace the insuperable line? Is it the faculty of reason, or perhaps the faculty of discourse? But 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 they were otherwise, what would it avail? The question is not Can they reason?, nor Can they talk?, but Can they suffer?

Jeremy Bentham (1748-1832) English jurist and philosopher
An Introduction to the Principles of Morals and Legislation, ch. 17 “Of the Limits of the Penal Branch of Jurisprudence” (1789; 1823)

Full text.

Bentham, Jeremy -- An Introduction to the Principles of Morals and Legislation, ch. 17, sec. 1, footnote (1789)

Dave — Fri, 22 Mar 2013 12:18:05 +0000

The question is not, Can they reason? nor, Can they talk? but, Can they suffer?

Jeremy Bentham (1748-1832) English jurist and philosopher
An Introduction to the Principles of Morals and Legislation, ch. 17, sec. 1, footnote (1789)
(Source)

On animals, questioning why they are treated differently under the law.

Bentham, Jeremy -- Principles of International Law, Essay 4 “A Plan for Universal and Perpetual Peace” (1796-89)

Dave — Mon, 08 Feb 2021 19:18:04 +0000

The dread of being duped by other nations — the notion that foreign heads are more able, though at the same time foreign hearts are less honest than our own, has always been one of our prevailing weaknesses.

Jeremy Bentham (1748-1832) English jurist and philosopher
Principles of International Law, Essay 4 “A Plan for Universal and Perpetual Peace” (1796-89)
(Source)

Bentham, Jeremy -- Principles of Legislation, ch. 10 “Analysis of Political Good and Evil” (1830)

Dave — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 18:30:35 +0000

It is with government, as with medicine. They have both but a choice of evils. Every law is an evil, for every law is an infraction of liberty: And I repeat that government has but a choice of evils: In making this choice, what ought to be the object of the legislator? He ought to assure himself of two things; 1st, that in every case, the incidents which he tries to prevent are really evils; and 2ndly, that if evils, they are greater than those which he employs to prevent them.

Jeremy Bentham (1748-1832) English jurist and philosopher
Principles of Legislation, ch. 10 “Analysis of Political Good and Evil” (1830)

Bentham, Jeremy -- Comment on James Mill

Dave — Sun, 01 Feb 2004 16:00:00 +0000

He rather hated the ruling few than loved the suffering many.

Jeremy Bentham (1748-1832) English jurist and philosopher
Comment on James Mill
(Source)

In the journal of Caroline Fox (7 Aug 1840), regarding the father of John Stuart Mill. James Mill was a proponent of Bentham's philosophy. The observation was recalled in conversation with John Bowring, Bentham's executor.

Bentham, Jeremy -- Letter to Lady Hannah Elice (24 Oct 1831)

Dave — Tue, 11 Sep 2012 12:44:18 +0000

The way to be comfortable is to make others comfortable. The way to make others comfortable is to appear to love them. The way to appear to love them — is to love them in reality.

Jeremy Bentham (1748-1832) English jurist and philosopher
Letter to Lady Hannah Elice (24 Oct 1831)
(Source)