The harm principle holds that the actions of individuals should only be limited to prevent harm to other individuals. John Stuart Mill articulated this principle in On Liberty, where he argued that "the only purpose for which power can be rightfully exercised over any member of a civilized community, against his will, is to prevent harm to others." An equivalent was earlier stated in France's Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen of 1789 as "Liberty consists in the freedom to do everything which injures no one else; hence the exercise of the natural rights of each man has no limits except those which assure to the other members of the society the enjoyment of the same rights. These limits can only be determined by law."
Read more about Harm Principle: Definition, The Offense Principle, Broader Definitions of Harm
Famous quotes containing the words harm and/or principle:
“Cats seem to go on the principle that it never does any harm to ask for what you want.”
—Joseph Wood Krutch (1893–1970)
“If there be one principle more deeply rooted than any other in the mind of every American, it is that we should have nothing to do with conquest.”
—Thomas Jefferson (1743–1826)