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Jeremy Bentham Quotes

Philosopher

Jeremy Bentham was an English philosopher, jurist, and social reformer who lived from February 15, 1748, to June 6, 1832. He is best known for his work in moral philosophy, political theory, and legal reform, particularly his advocacy for the principle of utilitarianism.

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All Government Pleasure Law Pain Ifs Lawyer Suffering Utility Animal Evil

Famous Jeremy Bentham Quotes

“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 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? Why should the law refuse its protection to any sensitive being? The time will come when humanity will extend its mantle over everything which breathes.”

Source: An Introduction to the Principles of Morals and Legislation

“Natural rights is simple nonsense: natural and imprescriptible rights, rhetorical nonsense—nonsense upon stilts.”

Natural Simple Rights Nonsense Rhetorical Natural Rights Stilts

Author:Jeremy Bentham

“Publicity is the very soul of justice. It is the keenest spur to exertion, and the surest of all guards against improbity.”

Soul Justice Publicity Spurs Exertion

Author:Jeremy Bentham

“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.”

Made Purpose House Given Liberty Property Libertarian Entering Restraining

Book:Benthamiana: Or Select Extracts from the Works of Jeremy Bentham. With an Outline of His Opinions on the Principal Subjects Discussed in His Works

Source: Benthamiana: Or Select Extracts from the Works of Jeremy Bentham. With an Outline of His Opinions on the Principal Subjects Discussed in His Works

“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.”

May Has Beens Hands Animal Rights Creation Tyranny Acquire Animal Rights Could Have Been Animal Compassion Animal Ethics Vivisection

Author:Jeremy Bentham

“We may scatter the seeds of courtesy and kindness about us at little expense. Some of them will fall on good ground, and grow up into benevolence in the minds of others, and all of them will bear fruit of happiness in the bosom whence they spring.”

Mind May Littles Fall Grows Kindness Growing Up Bears Spring Fruit Seeds Expenses Courtesy Bosoms Benevolence

Book:Deontology: or, The science of morality: in which the harmony and co-incidence of duty and self-interest, virtue and felicity, prudence and benevolence, are explained and exemplified

Source: Deontology: or, The science of morality: in which the harmony and co-incidence of duty and self-interest, virtue and felicity, prudence and benevolence, are explained and exemplified

“As to the evil which results from censorship, it is impossible to measure it, because it is impossible to tell where it ends.”

Ends Evil Results Impossible Censorship

Book:Theory of Legislation

Source: Theory of Legislation

“I don't care whether animals are capable of thinking; all I care about is that they are capable of suffering!”

Thinking Care Suffering Animal Capable Don't Care I Don't Care Animal Rights I Care

Author:Jeremy Bentham

“Pleasure is in itself a good; nay, even setting aside immunity from pain, the only good.”

Pain Pleasure Setting Settings Immunity

Book:The Collected Works of Jeremy Bentham: An Introduction to the Principles of Morals and Legislation

Source: The Collected Works of Jeremy Bentham: An Introduction to the Principles of Morals and Legislation

“O Logic: born gatekeeper to the Temple of Science, victim of capricious destiny: doomed hitherto to be the drudge of pedants: come to the aid of thy master, Legislation”