C. Wright Mills Quotes

There will always be some people who think for themselves, even among the self-appointed guardians of the great mass who, after having thrown off the yoke of immaturity themselves, will spread about them the spirit of a reasonable estimate of their own value and of the need for every man to think for himself.

I don't mean to say that I'm about to state my credo here on this page, but merely to affirm, sincerely for the first time in my life, my belief in man as an individual and independent entity. Certainly not independence in the everyday sense of the word, but pertaining to a freedom and mobility of thought that few people are able - or even have the courage - to achieve.

I hate the idea of always having to interpret other people's ideas and thoughts and words, because I'm very independent and, I guess, a free thinker.

I hate to tell people what they should think 'cause I really have an aversion when people tell me what to think.

To become self-aware, people must be allowed to hear a plurality of opinions and then make up their own minds. They must be allowed to say, write and publish whatever they want. Freedom of expression is the most basic, but fundamental, right. Without it, human beings are reduced to automatons.

Liberty is the possibility of doubting, the possibility of making a mistake, the possibility of searching and experimenting, the possibility of saying No to any authority - literary, artistic, philosophic, religious, social and even political.

I've always been very liberal when it comes to people thinking for themselves.

Think for yourselves and let others enjoy the privilege to do so, too.

I don't think that I have ever been rebellious. The thing is that I don't believe in people - what people tell me. I have to accept it in my own brain first. I don't listen to anyone, never.

I don't substitute anybody else's judgment for my own.

The advice I would give to someone is to not take anyone's advice.

The ultimate authority must always rest with the individual's own reason and critical analysis.

Every man must have the right fearlessly to think independently and express his opinion about what he knows, what he has personally thought about and experienced, and not merely to express with slightly different variations the opinion which has been inculcated in him.

Think for yourself and question authority.

I always feel like I want to do my career my own way. I never follow anybody's path, what they've done.

I don't believe in other people's ideas. I have my own ideas.

The dissenter is every human being at those moments of his life when he resigns momentarily from the herd and thinks for himself.

If you want to be told what to think, well, I'm not in that business.

Where I come from you're not raised to think on your own. It's not that you're pushed to read the Bible. The Bible is read to you.

Every man is by … natural right, the master of his own thoughts

I didn't follow anybody's advice, really.

Each of you, as an individual, must pick your own goals. Listen to others, but do not become a blind follower.

I'm used to being told what to say, but not what to think... that's usually left up to me.

I believe that people should be able to question things.

I wasn't part of any movement. I was working alone, following my instinct.