A Quote for Monday

John Stuart Mill (1806-1873) was a second generation Scottish philosopher (his dad was James Mill) most famous for his theory of utilitarianism. But this quote suggests he had a broader view of life than could by summarized by such a dry idea:

"Poetry is the most philosophic of all writing...
its object is truth, not individual and local,
but general and operative; not standing
upon external testimony, but carried alive
into the heart by passion; truth which is its
own testimony, which gives competence and
confidence to the tribunal to which it appeals."