《论自由·第一章·导论》第15节
Apart from the peculiar tenets of individual thinkers, there is also in the world at large an increasing inclination to stretch unduly the powers of society over the individual, both by the force of opinion and even by that of legislation: and as the tendency of all the changes taking place in the world is to strengthen society, and diminish the power of the individual, this encroachment is not one of the evils which tend spontaneously to disappear, but, on the contrary, to grow more and more formidable. The disposition of mankind, whether as rulers or as fellow-citizens to impose their own opinions and inclinations as a rule of conduct on others, is so energetically supported by some of the best and by some of the worst feelings incident to human nature, that it is hardly ever kept under restraint by anything but want of power; and as the power is not declining, but growing, unless a strong barrier of moral conviction can be raised against the mischief, we must expect, in the present circumstances of the world, to see it increase.
注释摘要
这段文字位于第一章导论的收尾部分。密尔在开篇追溯了自由与权威斗争的历史演变，从对抗君主专制到警惕民主社会中多数人通过立法和舆论实施的压迫，随后他提出了全书的核心原则——伤害原则，并简要勾勒了个人自由的三块领域。紧接着，他把矛头指向了一种现代社会的危险趋势，也就是你引的这段话。 在论证链条上，密尔此时正试图为后文对思想自由、个性等一系列具体论证扫清障碍、制造…