"I take it that the good of mankind means the attainment, by every man, of all the happiness which he can enjoy without diminishing the happiness of his fellow men"
- Thomas Huxley
About this Quote
This quote by Thomas Huxley speaks to the concept of the cumulative good of humanity. He is recommending that the good of mankind is accomplished when each individual has the ability to achieve joy without diminishing the happiness of others. This indicates that the cumulative good of humanity is not achieved through competitors or the pursuit of individual gain, but rather through cooperation and mutual respect. Huxley's quote recommends that the collective good of humanity is best attained when each person has the ability to pursue their own joy without infringing on the rights of others. This concept is in line with the principle of utilitarianism, which specifies that the greatest great is attained when the greatest variety of people are able to experience the best quantity of happiness. Huxley's quote is a suggestion that the cumulative good of mankind is best accomplished when each person has the ability to pursue their own happiness without infringing on the rights of others.