Chapter 1, Childhood and Early Education

It seems proper that I should prefix to the following biographical sketch, some mention of the reasons which have made me think it desirable that I should leave behind me such a memorial of so uneventful a life as mine. I do not for a moment imagine that any part of what I have to relate can be interesting to the public as a narrative, or as being connected with myself. But I have thought that in an age in which education, and its improvement, are the subject of more, if not of profounder study than at any former period of English history, it may be useful that there should be some record of an education which was unusual and remarkable, and which, whatever else it may have done, has proved how much more than is commonly supposed may be taught, and well taught, in those early years which, in the common modes of what is called instruction, are little better than wasted. It has also seemed to me that in an age of transition in opinions, there may be somewhat both of interest and of benefit in noting the successive phases of any mind which was always pressing forward, equally ready to learn and to unlearn either from its own thoughts or from those of others. But a motive which weighs more with me than either of these, is a desire to make acknowledgment of the debts which my intellectual and moral development owes to other persons; some of them of recognized eminence, others less known than they deserve to be, and the one to whom most of all is due, one whom the world had no opportunity of knowing. The reader whom these things do not interest, has only himself to blame if he reads farther, and I do not desire any other indulgence from him than that of bearing in mind, that for him these pages were not written.

Note from KBJ: As if I need another regular task, I’m going to post a paragraph of John Stuart Mill’s Autobiography (1873) each day (or every two or three days) until the entire work appears on this blog. I hope you read along with me; I think you’ll find it fascinating. I will post comments like this after each paragraph. Feel free to ask questions about things that are unclear or puzzling.

Note 2 from KBJ: Don’t believe Mill when he says he had an “uneventful” life. He’s being modest to the point of deception. I consider his life to be one of the most eventful any human being has had. If you’ve never read Mill’s Autobiography and know nothing of his education, your jaw will drop repeatedly. Mark my words.