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How far we are to consider the interests of posterity when they seem to conflict with those of now-existing human beings? The answer to this, though, seems clear: the time at which a man exists can’t affect the value of his happiness from a universal point of view; so the interests of posterity must concern a utilitarian as much as those of his contemporaries—except in that the effect of his actions on the lives and even the existence of posterity must be more uncertain.

— Henry Sidgwick The Methods of Ethics (1874)

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More quotes by Henry Sidgwick

Plato’s reason for claiming that the life of the Philosopher has more pleasure than that of the Sensualist is palpably inadequate.

The Methods of Ethics (1874)

In short, if a certain quality of human Life is that which is ultimately desirable, it must belong to human Life regarded on its psychical side, or, briefly, Consciousness.

The Methods of Ethics (1874)

Reason shows me that if my happiness is desirable and a good, the equal happiness of any other person must be equally desirable.

The Methods of Ethics (1874)

The good of any one individual is of no more importance, from the point of view...of the Universe, than the good of any other; unless, that is, there are special grounds for believing that more good is likely to be realized in the one case than in the other.

The Methods of Ethics (1874)

For philosophy and history alike have taught...to seek not what is "safe," but what is true.

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Quote text and notes from Wikiquote: Henry Sidgwick (page history), available under CC BY-SA 4.0. Source quality and labels are our own summary of what Wikiquote records.