"The independence of the individual is inherently absolute. The individual is master of himself, his body, and his mind."

John Stuart Mill's "On Liberty" was published in 1859 and has since been one of the most important works defending individual freedom. For Mill, individual freedom is the only path that leads to the development of the individual and humanity as a whole. Mill believed in a kind of secular ethics that would be based on democratic values and characterized by love for freedom and autonomy. He believed in rationality and tolerance, loved freedom while being an enemy of religious fanaticism, and defended absolute gender equality.

In our days, when accepted rules of dialogue are threatened by populists and political extremes, when there is systematic use of misinformation and the spread of fake news, Mill's argumentation for the defense of freedom of expression as a means to acquire knowledge and find truth through dialogue is as relevant as ever.