Jeremy Bentham Quotes

Jeremy Bentham was an English philosopher, jurist, and social reformer regarded as the founder of modern utilitarianism.Bentham defined as the "fundamental axiom" of his philosophy the principle that "it is the greatest happiness of the greatest number that is the measure of right and wrong." He became a leading theorist in Anglo-American philosophy of law, and a political radical whose ideas influenced the development of welfarism. He advocated individual and economic freedoms, the separation of church and state, freedom of expression, equal rights for women, the right to divorce, and (in an unpublished essay) the decriminalising of homosexual acts. ...more

The said truth is that it is the greatest happiness of the greatest number that is the measure of right and wrong.

There is no pestilence in a state like a zeal for religion, independent of morality.

Topic(s): States , Atheism , Independent

The turn of a sentence has decided the fate of many a friendship, and, for aught that we know, the fate of many a kingdom.

Topic(s): Knows , Turns , Fate

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.

Topic(s): May , Has Beens , Hands

A civilized society must count animals as worthy of moral consideration and ethical treatment. The question is not, Can they reason? nor Can they talk? but, Can they suffer?

Topic(s): Reason , Suffering , Animal

Create all the happiness you are able to create: remove all the misery you are able to remove. Every day will allow you to add something to the pleasure of others, or to diminish something of their pains. And for every grain of enjoyment you sow in the bosom of another, you shall find a harvest in your own bosom; while every sorrow which you pluck out from the thoughts and feelings of a fellow creature shall be replaced by beautiful peace and joy in the sanctuary of your soul.

Topic(s): Soul , Feelings , Beautiful

The principle of asceticism never was, nor ever can be, consistently pursued by any living creature. Let but one tenth part of the inhabitants of the earth pursue it consistently, and in a day’s time they will have turned it into a Hell.

Topic(s): Earth , Religion , Hell

The power of the lawyer is in the uncertainty of the law.

Topic(s): Law , Lawyer , Uncertainty

How is property given? By restraining liberty; that is, by taking it away so far as necessary for the purpose. How is your house made yours? By debarring every one else from the liberty of entering it without your leave.

Topic(s): Made , House , Purpose

Tyranny and anarchy are never far apart.

Topic(s): Tyranny , Tyrants , Anarchy

Priestly was the first (unless it was Becarria) who taught my lips to pronounce this sacred truth–that the greatest happiness of the greatest number is the foundation of morals and legislation.

Topic(s): Firsts , Moral , Numbers

Want keeps pace with dignity. Destitute of the lawful means of supporting his rank, his dignity presents a motive for malversation, and his power furnishes the means.

Topic(s): Want , Mean , Dignity

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Jeremy Bentham Quotes