Jeremy Bentham

“Whatever is, is right” . . . This is called following precedents . . . . Thus it is—that, by the comparative blindness of man in each preceding period, the like blindness in each succeeding period is secured: without the trouble or need of reflection,—men, by opulence rendered indolent, and by indolence and self-indulgence doomed to ignorance, follow their leaders—as sheep follow sheep, and geese geese.

The utility of all these arts and sciences,—I speak both of those of amusement and curiosity,—the value which they possess, is exactly in proportion to the pleasure they yield. . . . Prejudice apart, the game of push-pin is of equal value with the arts and sciences of music and poetry.

All inequality that has no special utility to justify it is injustice.

The day may come, when the rest of the animal creation may acquire those rights which never could have been withholden from them but by the hand of tyranny. . . . The question is not, Can they reason? nor, Can they talk? but, Can they suffer?