In the middle of the nineteenth century, Individualism was further developed by John Stuart Mill as a theory of individual liberty. He Stated it in his famous booklet On Liberty (1859) in classical terms as thus:
The State can serve its purpose of promoting the happiness and interests of the individual by not interfering in his life as much as possible. There are two occasions for such interference: expression of opinion and human behaviour and conduct. As regards opinion, Mill pleads for unlimited freedom of expression of opinion to all individuals. He grants this freedom even to the ‘cranks’ on the ground that while nine cranks out.of ten are harmless idiots, the tenth is of greater value to mankind than all the normal persons who seek to suppress him.
Mill defends the freedom of opinion of an individual not only against State interference but also against orthodox opinion of the majority, which should not suppress the opinions and views of the minority. “Mankind”, says Mill, “are greater gainers by suffering each other to live as seems good to them, than by compelling each to live as seems good to the rest.”
As regards individual conduct or action, Mill makes a distinction between actions which affect the individual alone, are called ‘self-regarding’ and those which affect other individuals are called ‘other-regarding’. The government should interfere or regulate only such actions of the individual which affect other individuals. ‘The sole end”, writes Mill, “for which mankind are warranted individually or collectively in interfering with liberty of action of any of their members is self-protection.