"[Sir James] Stephen's response to [J. S.] Mill, in Liberty, Equality, Fraternity [1873] was that the facts did not support Mill's optimistic view. Look at actual men and you will see that they are a mixed bag, but that on the whole one cannot rely on their non-vicious or non-selfish characteristics. Large numbers of mankind are bad and indifferent, selfish, idle and sensuous, incapable of advance from ignorance through argument and discussion. To bestow liberty on such people does not improve them; nor is it necessarily to their advantage to have freedom to indulge the impulses of their character. Because man's nature is untrustworthy, to grant free rein to it is likely to be socially pernicious rather than beneficial. It is desirable, therefore, upon occasion, perhaps many occasions, to coerce others for our good and theirs."
-- Wilhelm von Humboldt and German Liberalism, A Reassessment, John Roberts, 2009, p. 97.
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