Introduction
John Stuart Mill was a firm believer in individual freedom, a conviction which led him to dissent from then-fashionable economic and social policy on women’s rights and American slavery. In On Liberty (1858), he warned politicians that a docile, on-message public might let the engine of State run more smoothly, but it will also rob it of any power to move forward.
A GOVERNMENT cannot have too much of the kind of activity which does not impede, but aids and stimulates individual exertion and development. The mischief begins when, instead of calling forth the activity and powers of individuals and bodies, it substitutes its own activity for theirs; when, instead of informing, advising, and upon occasion denouncing, it makes them work in fetters, or bids them stand aside and does their work for them.*
The worth of a state, in the long run, is the worth of the individuals composing it;* and a state which postpones the interests of their mental expansion and elevation to a little more of administrative skill, or that semblance of it which practice gives in the details of business; a state, which dwarfs its men in order that they may be more docile instruments in its hands, even for beneficial purposes, will find that with small men no great thing can really be accomplished; and that the perfection of machinery to which it has sacrificed everything, will in the end avail it nothing for want of the vital power which, in order that the machine might work more smoothly, it has preferred to banish.
* See William Gladstone on A Spirit of Self-Reliance, and Jeremy Bentham on The Small Compass. Much the same could be said about the pros and cons of technological innovation: when it releases us from drudgery to be more creative it is a blessing; when it takes away our responsibilities and enslaves us to other minds it is not.
* “Some of the best English writers upon commerce” wrote Adam Smith (1723-1790) in Wealth of Nations (1776), pursuing a similar train of thought, “set out with observing that the wealth of a country consists, not in its gold and silver only, but in its lands, houses and consumable goods of all different kinds.” Smith then expresses frustration that soon afterwards they forget about the productivity of the people, and go back to talking about the gold in the Treasury.
Précis
Writing in 1858, John Stuart Mill argued that the role of Government is to encourage individuals to pursue their own chosen goals and activities. When Government directs or takes over these responsibilities, it does not make discharging them easier, as some suppose, but weakens and diminishes public character until the people are good for nothing. (55 / 60 words)
Writing in 1858, John Stuart Mill argued that the role of Government is to encourage individuals to pursue their own chosen goals and activities. When Government directs or takes over these responsibilities, it does not make discharging them easier, as some suppose, but weakens and diminishes public character until the people are good for nothing.
Variations: 1.increase the length of this precis to exactly 60 words. 2.reduce the length of this precis to exactly 50 words. 3.introduce one of the following words into the precis: about, although, if, just, may, otherwise, whereas, whether.
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Word Games
Spinners Find in Think and Speak
For each group of words, compose a sentence that uses all three. You can use any form of the word: for example, cat → cats, go → went, or quick → quickly, though neigh → neighbour is stretching it a bit.
This exercise uses words found in the accompanying passage.
1 Business. Machine. Nothing.
2 Bid. Sacrifice. State.
3 Activity. Expansion. Man.
Variations: 1. include direct and indirect speech 2. include one or more of these words: although, because, despite, either/or, if, unless, until, when, whether, which, who 3. use negatives (not, isn’t, neither/nor, never, nobody etc.)
Homophones Find in Think and Speak
In each group below, you will find words that sound the same, but differ in spelling and also in meaning. Compose your own sentences to bring out the differences between them.
This exercise uses words found in the accompanying passage.
Subject and Object Find in Think and Speak
Use each word below in two sentences, first as the subject of a verb, and then as the object of a verb. It doesn’t have to be the same verb: some verbs can’t be paired with an object (e.g. arrive, happen), so watch out for these.
This exercise uses words found in the accompanying passage.
1. Hand. 2. Make. 3. End. 4. Power. 5. Detail. 6. Government. 7. Will. 8. Bid. 9. Development.
Variations: 1.use your noun in the plural (e.g. cat → cats), if possible. 2.give one of your sentences a future aspect (e.g. will, going to). 3.write sentences using negatives such as not, neither, nobody and never.
High Tiles Find in Think and Speak
Make words (three letters or more) from the seven letters showing below, using any letter once only. Each letter carries a score. What is the highest-scoring word you can make?
Your Words ()
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