“The only part of the conduct of anyone for which he is amenable to society is that which concerns others. In the part which merely concerns himself, his independence is, of right, absolute. Over himself, over his own body and mind, the individual is sovereign.”

Rugged individualism, hurray! Just don't take away my insurance (that most socialistic of all inventions of man).

Another great Liberal - his thinking, like so many before and after him, is the mark of true Liberalism - the first sentence is the key to a civilized world.

As long as the concept remains "amenable", not escalating to 'mandatory'.

When was the last time you heard a politician say that?! (And you never will...)

If this is liberalism what happened to it?

It is reflexive for any truly sovereign Sovereign Individual, he or she whose personal sovereignty is necessarily predicated upon the ennobling presence of Virtue, to be mindful of the rights and sensibilities of his or her fellows.

It is this Virtue illumined mindfulness that constitutes the essence of civilization.