I'm plowing my way through John Stuart Mill's [i]On Liberty[/i]. I'd like to share one of his statements, made very early in the essay. All emphasis is mine, and I've broken it into paragraphs for easier reading. "The object of this essay is to assert one very simple principle, as entitled to govern absolutely the dealings of society with the individual in the way of compulsion and control, whether the means used be physical force in the form of legal penalties or the moral coercion of public opinion. That principle is that the sole end for which mankind are warranted, [i]individually or collectively[/i], in interfering with the liberty of action of any of their number is self-protection. [i]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.[/i] [i]His own good, either physical or moral, is not sufficient warrant.[/i] He cannot rightfully be compelled to do or forbear because it will be better for him to do so, because it will make him happier, because, in the opinions of others, to do so would be wise or even right. [i]These are good reasons for remonstrating with him, or reasoning with him, or persuading him, or entreating him, but not for compelling him or visiting him with any evil in case he do otherwise.[/i] To justify that, the conduct from which it is desired to deter him must be calculated to produce evil to someone else. The only part of the conduct of anyone for which he is amenable to society is that which concerns others. In the part which merely concerns himself, his independence is, of right, absolute. [i]Over himself, over his own body and mind, the individual is sovereign.[/i]" [i]On Liberty[/i] is only one of my efforts to establish minarchy as morally equal, if not morally superior, to a voluntarist society.