More from "On Liberty"

"It is not by wearing down into uniformity all that is individual in themselves, but by cultivating it, and calling it forth, within the limits imposed by the rights and interests of others, that human beings become a noble and beautiful object of contemplations; and as the works partake the character of those who do them, by the same process human life also becomes rich, diversified, and animating, furnishing more abundant aliment to high thoughts and elevating feelings, and strengthening the tie which binds every individual to the race, by making the race infinitely better worth belonging to."

I'm really enjoying reading this book. My only problem with it is that the author ultimately believes these ideas belong to certain classes of people; women, children, and barbarians excluded. I just can't see how you can believe that allowing people to strengthen themselves through liberty will bring those at a lower level up by association, but that it doesn't apply across some boundaries. Won't anyone who associates with liberty be brought closer to that ideal?

The quote above is another that stuck home with me regarding education (my favorite subject). It's what I believe the system of education we use in the United States public schools does to people, "wearing down into uniformity". It isn't the way humans develop.