《论自由·第二章·思想与讨论的自由》第15节
A theory which maintains that truth may justifiably be persecuted because persecution cannot possibly do it any harm, cannot be charged with being intentionally hostile to the reception of new truths; but we cannot commend the generosity of its dealing with the persons to whom mankind are indebted for them. To discover to the world something which deeply concerns it, and of which it was previously ignorant; to prove to it that it had been mistaken on some vital point of temporal or spiritual interest, is as important a service as a human being can render to his fellow-creatures, and in certain cases, as in those of the early Christians and of the Reformers, those who think with Dr. Johnson believe it to have been the most precious gift which could be bestowed on mankind. That the authors of such splendid benefits should be requited by martyrdom; that their reward should be to be dealt with as the vilest of criminals, is not, upon this theory, a deplorable error and misfortune, for which humanity should mourn in sackcloth and ashes, but the normal and justifiable state of things. The propounder of a new truth, according to this doctrine, should stand, as stood, in the legislation of the Locrians, the proposer of a new law, with a halter round his neck, to be instantly tightened if the public assembly did not, on hearing his reasons, then and there adopt his proposition. People who defend this mode of treating benefactors, cannot be supposed to set much value on the benefit; and I believe this view of the subject is mostly confined to the sort of persons who think that new truths may have been desirable once, but that we have had enough of them now.
注释摘要
密尔在这一段里处理的是一个特定的、为宗教迫害辩护的精致论点。这个论点不是简单地说“你错了所以我惩罚你”，而是承认新思想或新真理本身可能是有价值的，但声称迫害只是真理必须经历的考验，并且因为真理最终总会战胜迫害，所以迫害本身并没有造成真正的、长久的伤害。密尔此时正在第二章里一条一条地驳斥那些反对思想自由的意见，他刚刚才用苏格拉底、耶稣和马可·奥勒留迫害基督教…