“To me this question whether liberty is a good or a bad thing appears as irrational as the question whether fire is a good or a bad thing. It is both good and bad according to time, place, and circumstance, and a complete answer to the question, In what cases is liberty good and in what cases is it bad? would involve not merely a universal history of mankind, but a complete solution of the problems which such a history would offer.”

—  James Fitzjames Stephen

Source: Liberty, Equality, Fraternity (1873-1874), Ch. 2

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James Fitzjames Stephen 12
Indian judge 1829–1894

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